XN000022-1993-08-14+15 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 1993

STATEMENT ON CMB STAFF REDUNDANCY

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IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TONIGHT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THAT, AT THEIR MEETING TOMORROW (MONDAY), CMB WORKERS AND THE MANAGEMENT COULD SATISFACTORILY RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES OVER STAFF REDUNDANCIES.

"THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE, AND ARE MINDFUL OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION, AND HAS MAINTAINED CLOSE CONTACT WITH BOTH PARTIES.

TT

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "IT WOULD CLEARLY BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR THE TWO SIDES TO REACH A SETTLEMENT OF THEIR DIFFERENCES BY WAY OF NEGOTIATION.

"BUT IF TALKS SHOULD BREAK DOWN AND THIS IS FOLLOWED BY INDUSTRIAL ACTION AFFECTING CMB SERVICES, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD INTRODUCE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT INCONVENIENCE ΤΟ CMB PASSENGERS IS MINIMISED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. THESE MEASURES WOULD INCLUDE THE DEPLOYMENT, IF NECESSARY, OF ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES."

"SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT THE ACTIVATION OF THESE CONTINGENCY MEASURES, DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED THROUGH RADIO AND TV AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO HAVE TO USE CMB SERVICES, ARE ADVISED TO TUNE IN ON THEIR TV AND RADIO EARLY ON TUESDAY MORNING, BEFORE SETTING OUT ON THEIR JOURNEYS.

THE SPOKESMAN CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT "THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NO MORE THAN AN EARLY NOTIFICATION TO MEMBERS OF THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC THAT, SHOULD INDUSTRIAL ACTION BE TAKEN, WE HAVE PLANS TO COPE WITH IT.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE EXPECTING INDUSTRIAL ACTION. INDEED, AS BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE, WE ARK HOPEFUL THAT THEY COULD REACH AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT ON MONDAY EVENING."

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$11 MILLION GRANTS FOR PUBLICITY ON REHABILITATION

THE NEXT TWO ACCEPTANCE OF

MORE THAN 30 PUBLIC EDUCATION PROJECTS ON REHABILITATION, AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $11 MILLION, WILL BE LAUNCHED OVER YRARS TO PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND COMMUNITY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH SAID THE BULK OF FUNDING REQUIRED HAD BEEN SECURED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

/"THE QUEEN