XN000022-1992-07-08 — Page 21

TRADERS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1992

PRIVACY WELL PROTECTED

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLANS ΤΟ LIFT THE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON THE DIVULGENCE OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IMPORT/EXPORT DECLARATIONS AND CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T.H. CHAU, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JIMMY MCGREGOR IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAU SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD THE DUTY TO SAFEGUARD THE PRIVACY OF TRADERS AND MANUFACTURERS AND TO PRESERVE THE SECURITY OF COMMERCIALLY CONFIDENTIAL DATA SUPPLIED BY THEM.

AT PRESENT, THE EXPORT (CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN) REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY FACTORIES FOR CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN REGISTRATION MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO TRADE PROMOTION ORGANISATIONS AND MAY BE PUBLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPLYING TO

TRADE ENQUIRIES.

"SUCH INFORMATION IS, HOWEVER, LIMITED ΤΟ THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF MANUFACTURERS AND THE NATURE OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

"WE BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT ΤΟ ENABLE TRADE PROMOTION ORGANISATIONS TO DEVELOP A USEFUL DATA BASE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING TRADE AND INDUSTRY," HE ADDED.

DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS ALLOCATION ON OPERATIONAL NEED

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ALL CIVIL SERVANTS RESIDING IN DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS BEFORE THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (HA) TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS ON DECEMBER 1, 1991 ARE ABLE TO RETAIN THEIR ELIGIBILITY.

OPTION

THEIR ELIGIBILITY WILL LAST UNTIL THEIR THREE-YEAR PERIOD FOR TRANSFER TO HA EXPIRES OR UNTIL THEY LEAVE THE CIVIL SERVICE, WHICHEVER IS THE EARLIER.

"A FIRM ASSURANCE IN THIS REGARD HAS BEEN CONVEYED TO THE STAFF THROUGH ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATION CHANNELS," THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL HO MUN-KA IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG SAID BEFORE DECEMBER 1991, 7.9 PER CENT OF THE MEDICAL, NURSING AND PARAMEDICAL STAFF WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RESIDED IN DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS.

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