XN000022-1992-10-19 — Page 10

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1992

FEE RISES FOR MARINE STORE AND MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS LICENCES

LICENSEES OF MARINE STORES AND MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS TO PAY MORE FOR THEIR LICENCES WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 16.

HAVE

THE FEES FOR THE ISSUE AND RENEWAL OF A MARINE STORES DEALER LICENCE HAVE BEEN INCREASED FROM $825 TO $1,200 A YEAR AND THAT FOR A MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT LICENCE FROM $3,320 TO $5,000.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE FEES WERE SET TO RECOVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF INCREASED COSTS SINCE THE FEES WERE LAST REVISED IN 1988.

THE MARINE STORES (AMENDMENT} REGULATION 1992 AND MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS (AMENDMENT) REGULATION 1992, WHICH SEEK TO INCREASE THE FEES FOR THESE LICENCES, WERE GAZETTED LAST FRIDAY.

0

—

VITAL

COMMUNICATION KEY TO HAPPY MARRIAGE

**

A

MRS PATTEN SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES DID JOB TO HELP PROVIDE THE CEMENT THAT WAS ESSENTIAL то REBUILD MARRIAGES RUNNING INTO TROUBLE.

AND

SPEAKING AT

AN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE MARRIAGE PERSONAL COUNSELLING SERVICE, SHE SAID THE CEMENT WAS COMMUNICATION.

-

"BY ENCOURAGING COUPLES TO COMMUNICATE

WITH YOU, WITH THEMSELVES, WITH EACH OTHER YOU REALLY CAN AND DO HAVE A DECISIVE INFLUENCE ON THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.

"OFTEN IT INVOLVES HARD CHOICES; OFTEN IT MEANS GREATER SENSITIVITY AND UNDERSTANDING; OFTEN IT MEANS WORKING OUT COMPROMISES.

"YOU ARE THE CATALYST THAT PROMPTS THESE THINGS то HAPPEN,"

SHE SAID.

500

NOTING THAT DIVORCE CASES IN HONG KONG WERE RISING BY ABOUT EVERY YEAR, MRS PATTEN SAID THE FIRST TASK MUST BE ONE OF PREVENTION RATHER THAN CURE.

SHE SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING THREE THINGS TO DO:

* EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A MARRIAGE;

* EXPLAIN THAT MARRIAGE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST SEXUAL AND

ROMANTIC LOVE, BUT ABOUT A LIFETIME BUILT ON A SOLID

FOUNDATION OF ENDURING PARTNERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP; AND

* EXPLAIN THE DIFFICULTIES LIKELY TO EMERGE IN MARRIAGE,

TO AVOID THEM AND HOW TO RESOLVE THEM.

HOW

/EXPLAINING THAT

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