ENG-1966 — Page 280

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PRESS, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA

government departments, and to help him understand government rules and procedures, particularly when they affect him personally. It is also responsible for answering all non-technical enquiries about local storm warning signals. Once the local storm signal No 3 is hoisted, any member of the public can telephone an enquiry centre at any hour to find out the latest weather position and related topics, such as damages and casualties, suspension of public trans- port services and postponement of public functions.

On average the three enquiry centres in the central district, Wan Chai and Kowloon handled 13,792 enquiries a month in 1966, excluding 10,807 telephone enquiries resulting from the typhoons and severe rainstorm that affected the Colony during the year. In addition, a total of 2,655 enquiries were also answered during the year in two separate listeners' letter box 'Enquire Within' programmes produced by the Public Enquiry Service in conjunction with the Chinese service of Radio Hong Kong and Commercial Radio, for the benefit of those who find it inconvenient to come to the enquiry centres. In its work and organization the Public Enquiry Service is somewhat similar to citizens' advice bureaux in other parts of the world and its emphasis is to give a sympathetic hearing, coupled with helpful advice and practical assistance. All centres have specially trained staff, each member speaking English, Can- tonese and a number of other Chinese dialects. Results show that the service is a valuable instrument for improving the government's relations with the public.