Daily Information Bulletin
Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777

Monday, July 7, 1997 CONTENTS ======== 1. Department of Justice's response to media enquiries 2. CSD's response to press enquiries 3. October 1 will be statutory holiday 4. Press and Broadcast Centre closes on Wednesday 5. Re-opening of the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry 6. Tender for the 16th Issue of 3-Year Exchange Fund Notes 7. Water storage figure 1. Department of Justice's response to media enquiries *************************************************** In response to media enquiries on a case before Deputy Judge Lugar-Mawson this (Monday) morning on the legality of laws passed by the Provisional Legislature, a spokesman for the Department of Justice noted that the arguments will be put to the Court of Appeal at the end of this month. The Secretary for Justice has accepted the recommendation of the Director of Public Prosecutions that all applications for adjournment pending the outcome of the appeal be opposed by the prosecution. The Department of Justice is concerned that judicial proceedings should continue without delay while the issue is being resolved, the spokesman said. End 2. CSD's response to press enquiries ********************************* In response to press enquiries on the number of complaint cases received by the Ombudsman today (Monday) on the Correctional Services Department (CSD) and about the amendments to the Prison Rules under the Prisons Ordinance (Cap.234), seeking to relax restrictions on prisoners' incoming and outgoing correspondence, a spokesman for the CSD gave the following response: Against the record of 281 cases published by the Ombudsman in connection with complaint against Correctional Services Department between July 1996 to June 1997, only 148 cases have been referred to CSD for enquires. Among these cases, apart from 44 which are pending conclusion from the Ombudsman, only one complaint was substantiated whereas another two cases were partially substantiated. On the issue of the Prison (Amendment) Rules 1997 which came into effect on June 28,1997, that any letter to a prisoner from, or from a prisoner to, a "specified person", the list of such "specified person", apart from the Ombudsman include Executive Councillors, Legislative Councillors, visiting Justices of the Peace, and the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Prisoners are allowed to communicate in writing with any person, and the number of letters they write and send will not be limited. Prison staff will only read prisoners' letters if they have reasons to believe that the contents threaten the security, good order and discipline in the prison, unless the prison is a maximum security prison. The CSD has prior to the commencement of the amendments specified that such a letter should: * not be opened or searched except in the presence of the prisoner or unless the prisoner indicates that he does not wish to be present and, * not be read. Such an amendment has been made in line with the Bill of Rights Ordinance. End 3. October 1 will be statutory holiday *********************************** The National Day on October 1, 1997 will be an additional statutory holiday this year. Under the Employment Ordinance, an employer must grant a holiday to an employee on statutory holidays. The additional statutory holiday on October 1, 1997, was published in the Government Gazette on July 1. "Under the Ordinance, all employees, irrespective of their wage levels, are entitled to statutory holidays," a spokesman for the Labour Department said today (Monday). "An employee employed under a continuous contract is entitled to statutory holiday pay if he has worked continuously for his employer for three months or longer immediately before the statutory holiday," the spokesman added. Holiday pay should be equivalent to an employee's earnings on a full working day and should include basic wages as well as allowances that can be expressed in money terms such as cost of living, meal, travelling and attendance allowances, attendance bonus, commission and overtime pay. Any employer who fails to comply with the provisions of statutory holidays is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000. End 4. Press and Broadcast Centre closes on Wednesday ********************************************** The Press and Broadcast Centre (PBC) established by the Hong Kong Government to facilitate the world's media in reporting on the Handover and related activities will close at 8 am on Wednesday (July 9). Since it opened on June 15, the PBC has been home to thousands of representatives of the print and broadcast media from nearly 20 countries or territories. Most of the 6,500 media personnel who picked up their accreditation badges to cover the Handover activities used the facilities provided at the PBC. At the height of its operation, between 160 and 200 information officers and about 100 executive officers and representatives of other grades provided support services to operate the various facilities at the PBC. In all, some 9,000 media and general enquiries were handled by the information desk. Thirty media briefings were organised in the PBC's press conference room and over 40 visits to a range of destinations were arranged for both local and overseas journalists. One hundred and sixteen media organisations (62 TV and radio and 54 print media) booked a total of 225 exclusive working booths in the PBC. These covered an area of over 3,000 square metres. Announcing the closing date today, a Government spokesman said the Press and Broadcast Centre had run remarkably smoothly since it had opened three weeks ago. "In general, the comments we have received from users of the centre have been most favourable." The spokesman pointed out that the PBC was closing slightly ahead of the scheduled date of July 10 as all organisations that had taken exclusive work space had now checked out or would have completed their shipping arrangements by early July 9. End 5. Re-opening of the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry ***************************************************** "The Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry will be re- opened for service on Wednesday (July 9)," an Immigration Department spokesperson announced today (Monday). This Marriage Registry will provide marriage ceremony services, accept applications for search of marriage records and issue certified true copies of marriage records and Certificates of Absence of Marriage Records, the spokesperson said. Marrying parties who wish to have their marriage ceremonies at the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry should file notices of marriage at the Marriage Registration and Records Office in Queensway, he added. For enquiries, members of the public may telephone 2824 6111. End 6. Tender for the 16th Issue of 3-Year Exchange Fund Notes ******************************************************* The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announces that the tender for the sixteenth issue of 3-year Exchange Fund Notes will be held on Monday, 14 July 1997 for settlement on Tuesday, 15 July 1997. Similar to the previous issue, an amount of HK$500 million 3-year Notes will be on offer. In addition to that, another HK$100 million will be held as reserve by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for supply to Market Makers in the secondary market. The Notes will mature on 17 July 2000 and will carry interest at the rate of 6.08% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears. Members of the public who wish to tender for the Notes may do so through any of the Market Makers or Recognized Dealers on the published list which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority at 30/F, 3 Garden Road, Hong Kong (or telephone 2878 8150). Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY EXCHANGE FUND NOTE PROGRAMME TENDER INFORMATION ________________________________________________________ Tender information for the sixteenth issue of 3-Year Exchange Fund Notes :- Issue Number : 3007 Tender Date and Time : Monday 14 July 1997, 9.30 am to 10.30 am Issue and Settlement Date : Tuesday 15 July 1997 Amount on Offer : HK$500 million plus an additional HK$100 million as reserve stock for the Monetary Authority Maturity : Three years Maturity Date : 17 July 2000 Interest Rate : 6.08% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears Interest Payment Dates : 15 Jan 1998, 15 Jul 1998, 15 Jan 1999, 15 Jul 1999, 17 Jan 2000, 17 Jul 2000 Tender Amount : Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Members of the public who wish to tender for the Notes may approach Market Makers or Recognized Dealers on the published list Other details : Please see Information Memorandum published or approach Market Makers or Recognized Dealers End 7. Water storage figure ******************** Storage in Hong Kong's reservoirs at 9 am today (Monday) stood at 95.2 per cent of capacity or 558.115 million cubic metres. This time last year the reservoirs contained 554.364 million cubic metres of water, representing 92.9 per cent of capacity. End



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