XN000022-1992-03-12 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1992

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THE BILL WHICH SEEKS TO PLACE CONDITIONS ON GRANTING MFN TRADING STATUS TO CHINA WAS PASSED IN THE SENATE TWO WEEKS AGO BY A 59 TO 39 MARGIN AND WAS VETOED BY THE PRESIDENT ON MARCH 2.

IN HIS VETO MESSAGE, THE PRESIDENT INDICATED AGAIN HIS READINESS ΤΟ VETO ANY BILL ATTACHING CONDITIONS TO RENEWING MEN TRADING STATUS FOR CHINA.

A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS IS REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE A PRESIDENTIAL VETO.

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT PLEDGES FULL ASSISTANCE TO TUNNEL STAFF

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN A SERIES OF ACTIONS TO SECURE JOB TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE CONTRACTING OUT OF THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT TUNNELS.

THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH, THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO NEGOTIATING WITH ITS BEST EFFORTS FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR STAFF CONCERNED IN THEIR APPLICATION FOR POSTS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR ERNEST LEE SHU-WING, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) AFTER MEETING THE STAFF REPRESENTATIVES.

"SINCE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECISION IN MID-FEBRUARY THIS YEAR TO CONTRACT OUT THE MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT TUNNELS, INDIVIDUAL LETTERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED то ALL CONCERNED INCLUDING TRANSPORT CONTROLLERS, TRANSPORT ASSISTANTS, WORKMEN II AND COOKS, EXPLAINING HOW THE EXERCISE WOULD AFFECT THEM.

"ALL OFFICERS WERE PROVIDED WITH A PRELIMINARY CALCULATION OF THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS THAT WOULD BE PAYABLE ΤΟ THEM UNDER THE ABOLITION OF OFFICE TERMS," MR LEE SAID.

THIS WOULD HELP INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS CONCERNED то DECIDE IF THEY WOULD PREFER TO STAY WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE OR OTHERWISE.

AT THE SAME TIME, PREFERENCE FORMS WERE ISSUED SO THAT COULD INDICATE CLEARLY WHETHER THEY WOULD WANT THE DEPARTMENT TO IN THEIR JOB TRANSFER.

THEY HELP

"FOR THOSE WHO PREFER A CIVIL SERVICE JOB TRANSFER, THE DEPARTMENT HAS CIRCULATED AND WILL CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE ΤΟ THEM CIVIL SERVICE VACANCIES PERTINENT TO THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.

"AS FOR THOSE WHO WOULD WANT TO APPLY FOR NEW VACANCIES TO BE ADVERTISED BY CONTRACTORS TENDERING TO MANAGE AND OPERATE GOVERNMENT TUNNELS BY EARLY 1993, THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CONTRACTORS TO HIRE THEM MR LEE ADDED.

PLEDGED TO MAKE WHERE APPROPRIATE,

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/MR LEE

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