XN000022-1993-10-20 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1993

GOVT SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS ASKED TO STAY COOL

* * *

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ON THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION TO BE STAGED BY THE SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANT (SWA) BRANCH OF THE HONG KONG CHINESE CIVIL SERVANTS' ASSOCIATION FROM OCTOBER 25 TO 27, THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR ALFRED CHUI WING-MAN, ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE MAINTAINED.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY MET TWO OF THEIR THREE REQUESTS. THESE ARE IMPROVING THEIR PROMOTION PROSPECTS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.

THE

ON THEIR REQUEST FOR A SALARY STRUCTURE REVIEW, MR CHUI SAID DEPARTMENT HAD EARLIER PUT THE CASE TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR

CONSIDERATION.

THE

ADMINISTRATION HAD EXAMINED THE CASE AND ADVISED THAT

THERE WERE INSUFFICIENT JUSTIFICATIONS.

HE ADDED THAT IN THE MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SWA BRANCH TODAY

ΤΟ (WEDNESDAY), BOTH SIDES AGREED TO FORM A TASK GROUP IDENTIFY NEW GROUNDS FOR A RE-SUBMISSION OF THE SWA BRANCH'S REQUEST, TO SUBSTANTIATE THE CASE.

"IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT THE SWA BRANCH SHOULD DECIDE TO STAGE A SIT-IN NEXT WEEK DESPITE WE HAVE ALREADY REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION THROUGH THE TASK GROUP, MR CHUI SAID.

+

HE APPEALED TO STAFF IN THE SWA GRADE TO ACT WITH PATIENCE GOOD SENSE.

AND

HE ALSO URGED THEM, AS SOCIAL WORKERS, THAT THEY SHOULD PUT PUBLIC INTEREST FIRST, AND NOT TO TAKE ANY DISRUPTIVE ACTION, WHICH WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO FURTHERING THEIR CAUSE.

HE URGED THEM TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE.

0

STUDY ON AMORTISATION OF NON-CONFORMING EXISTING USES

A

THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, DR PETER PUN, HAS SIGNED $1,260,000 AGREEMENT WITH A CONSULTANCY FIRM TO CARRY OUT A FIVE-MONTH STUDY ON AMORTISATION OF NON-CONFORMING EXISTING USES.

IN THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE PUBLISHED IN JULY 1991,

IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE CONCEPT OF AMORTISATION SHOULD BE USED SELECTIVELY ΤΟ ELIMINATE NON-CONFORMING EXISTING USES WHICH ARE CAUSING HEALTH, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL OR SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

THE STUDY IS PART OF THE WORK ON THE

THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE.

COMPREHENSIVE

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, NON-CONFORMING PERMITTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL REDEVELOPMENT.

REVIEW OF

EXISTING USES ARE

/"BY AMORTISATION