Issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777
Monday, December 8, 1997
CONTENTS
========
1. CE's transcript
2. Almost all households visited in voter registration drive
3. Seminar to explain voter registration procedures
4. Results of the clinical examination announced
5. Survey to collect views on country parks
6. Tender for 14th issue of 5-year Exchange Fund notes
7. Postal services to Israel resumed
8. 1996 Population By-census MAP on CD-ROM released
9. Free symphonic concert at City Hall
10. Hong Kong Observatory Calendar 1998 on sale
11. Water storage figure
1. CE's transcript
***************
Following is the transcript of a media session given
by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, after attending
the Election Conference for the HKSAR Deputies to the
Ninth National People's Congress this (Monday) morning:
Reporter: ... records in democratic elections being chosen
in China's parliament.
Mr Tung: Well, as I said earlier on, that this election
has been conducted in a very fair, open manner, and that
the 424 people represent a very wide cross-section of Hong
Kong people, and they are also some of the best we have in
Hong Kong. That they have chosen these 36. They've
elected these 36 representatives. Now, these are indirect
elections, and indirect election is effective in its own
way. And this is the way it's been done. And I think the
results are very good. And these 36 persons will
represent Hong Kong very well.
End
2. Almost all households visited in voter registration drive
*********************************************************
Nearly all the two million households in Hong Kong
have been visited in the last two days by the 30,000 Voter
Registration Ambassadors(VRAs) mobilised by the Government
in an all-out effort to involve as many eligible voters as
possible for next May's Legislative Council elections.
In the second day of the Voter Registration Week, the
VRAs managed to sign up 110,000 new voters and collect
30,000 forms on change of particulars of registered
voters.
A spokesman for the Home Affairs Department said:
"The results of the weekend's unprecedented drive to
register eligible voters has amply justified Government's
determination to make the first Legislative Council
elections under the Hong Kong Special Administration
Region a success.
"At the latest tally early this morning, the
weekend's efforts has resulted in the registration of
230,000 new voters and collection of 60,000 forms on
change of particulars. While those households whose
residents were not at home when VRAs called on them in the
last two days will be visited again in the next five days
after 6 pm," the spokesman added.
He also reminded all eligible voters to register
before the deadline on January 16.
End
3. Seminar to explain voter registration procedures
************************************************
Eligible functional constituency electors and voters
of the Election Committee subsectors will have another
opportunity to learn more about registration procedures
for the 1998 Legislative Council election at a seminar
this Thursday (December 11).
"The Legislative Council Ordinance enacted in October
has made some changes in relation to the composition of
functional constituencies and the Election Committee," a
spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office said.
"For example, eight new functional constituencies
have been introduced and the 800-member Election Committee
will be formed through subsector elections in early April
next year," he said.
"It is therefore important for the potential
electorate to be acquainted with registration
arrangements," he added.
The seminar will be held from 3 pm to 4.30 pm on
December 11 at the Theatre on the second floor of the Hong
Kong City Hall Low Block.
Interested parties are requested to call the
Registration and Electoral Office on 2891 1394 to reserve
a seat.
Officers of the Registration and Electoral Office
will be on hand to brief participants and answer
questions. Registration application forms and guidance
notes explaining registration procedures will be
distributed.
Letters have been sent to more than 700 relevant
organisations to invite them to attend the seminar.
The Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission,
Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, has written to bureau chiefs to
enlist their support for appealing to relevant
organisations and their members to attend the seminar.
End
4. Results of the clinical examination announced
*********************************************
The Licentiate Committee of the Medical Council of
Hong Kong announced today (Monday) that among the 27
candidates who had sat the Clinical Examination, nine
candidates had passed the examination, representing a pass
rate of 33.33 per cent.
The Clinical Examination, held from November 25 to
December 2, 1997, aimed at testing candidates' ability in
the application of professional knowledge to clinical
problems. The examination covered subjects in medicine,
surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics.
Successful candidates are required to undergo a 12-
month assessment and training as interns in hospitals
arranged by the Central Internship Committee.
End
5. Survey to collect views on country parks
****************************************
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) will
launch a comprehensive survey today (Monday) to collect
views on the territory's country parks.
The survey, the sixth exercise of its kind since
1982, will be conducted in 18 country parks and two
special areas until the end of January next year.
An AFD Senior Country Park Officer, Dr Yeung Ka-ming,
said the survey would help to collect views on the
effectiveness of existing country park system and to find
out areas for improvement.
He said: "A rating of country parks facilities and
the sources of country parks information will also be
included in the survey.
"The needs of country park visitors and their usage
patterns and trends can be revealed in the data
collected," he said.
Dr Yeung said the statistical data and valuable
opinions collected would be carefully considered for the
improvement and long-term development of country parks.
AFD's uniformed country park rangers, wardens and
field staff will randomly select 3,000 park visitors as
interviewees. Civil Aid Service staff will help out on
Sundays and public holidays.
Dr Yeung called on park visitors to support the
survey exercise. Each respondent would be given a
souvenir in recognition of their assistance.
In order to obtain a full picture of the public's
views on country parks, questionnaires will be sent to
schools to gauge the views of students and teachers while
a similar survey will be conducted on Internet to approach
the general public.
End
6. Tender for 14th issue of 5-year Exchange Fund notes
***************************************************
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announces today
(Monday) that the tender for the 14th issue of five-year
Exchange Fund notes will be held on Monday, December 15,
1997 for settlement on Tuesday, December 16, 1997.
Similar to the previous issue, an amount of HK$500
million 5-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
December 16, 2002 and will carry interest at the rate of
8.25% 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
Recognised Dealers on the published list which can be
obtained from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority at 30th
floor, 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 14th issue of five-year
Exchange Fund notes:
Issue Number : 5212
Tender Date and Time : Monday, 15 December 1997,
9.30 am to 10.30 am
Issue and Settlement Date : Tuesday, 16 December 1997
Amount on Offer : HK$500 million plus an
additional HK$100 million
as reserve stock for the
Monetary Authority
Maturity : Five years
Maturity Date : 16 December 2002
Interest Rate : 8.25% per annum payable
semi-annually in arrears
Interest Payment Dates : 16 Jun 1998, 16 Dec 1998,
16 Jun 1999, 16 Dec 1999,
16 Jun 2000, 18 Dec 2000,
18 Jun 2001, 17 Dec 2001,
17 Jun 2002, 16 Dec 2002
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 Recognised Dealers on the
published list
Other details : Please see Information
Memorandum published or
approach Market Makers or
Recognised Dealers
End
7. Postal services to Israel resumed
*********************************
The Postmaster General, Mr Robert Footman, announced
today (Monday) that as the general strike in Israel which
commenced on December 3 is now over, all postal services,
including Speedpost, to Israel can now be resumed.
"However, there could be slight delay in delivery
whilst the Israeli Postal Authority is clearing the
backlog," Mr Footman added.
End
8. 1996 Population By-census MAP on CD-ROM released
************************************************
A new CD-ROM product, called "MAP on CD-ROM",
containing a set of digital maps of Hong Kong to
complement the dissemination of the 1996 Population By-
census data, is put on sale by the Census and Statistics
Department today (Monday).
The Census and Statistics Department has earlier
released a CD-ROM product, called "TAB on CD-ROM",
containing the results of the 1996 Population By-census.
The TAB on CD-ROM contains 324 detailed statistical tables
on the demographic, household, education, labour force,
housing, internal migration and home moving
characteristics of the population.
When used with suitable software, the digital maps in
the MAP on CD-ROM can be used for geographical
presentation of the statistical data contained in the TAB
on CD-ROM.
The MAP on CD-ROM is jointly produced by the Census
and Statistics Department and the Lands Department. To
meet the needs of users of different software, the set of
digital maps in the MAP on CD-ROM is provided in six
commonly used map formats.
At $1,950 per set, the MAP on CD-ROM can be purchased
from the Census and Statistics Department (addresses: 16th
floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, or sixth
floor, Fortress Tower, 250 King's Road, North Point, Hong
Kong). For enquiries on the product, please call
2887 5551.
End
9. Free symphonic concert at City Hall
***********************************
A symphonic concert presented by Hong Kong
Sinfonietta will be held at 8 pm this Sunday (December 14)
at the Concert Hall of City Hall Low Block, Hong Kong, to
mark the closing of the Fifth Central and Western District
Culture and Arts Festival.
A number of well-known pieces of music will be played
including "Waltz from Swan Lake", "Wedding March from A
Mid-summer Night's Dream", "Hercules Suite", "Beauty and
the Beast" and "Nutcracker Suite".
The concert is organised by Central and Western
District Association for Culture and Arts and co-organised
by Central and Western Provisional District Board and
Central and Western District Office. Sponsors include
Provisional Urban Council, Lions Club of Bayview Hong Kong
and Association of the Hong Kong Central and Western
District.
Admission is free. Tickets can be obtained on a
first-come-first served basis at Public Enquiry Services
Counter of the Central and Western District Office; Music
Office of the Arts Centre and Sheung Wan Civic Centre.
Enquiries can be made on 2852 3499.
End
10. Hong Kong Observatory Calendar 1998 on sale
*******************************************
The Hong Kong Observatory Calendar 1998 is now on
sale.
Adopting the theme of the World Meteorological Day
1998 "Weather, Oceans and Human Activities", the calendar
describes the intimate relations amongst the three
subjects.
It also contains useful geophysical information such
as rising/setting times of the sun, moon and tide as well
as monthly climatological normals and extremes. Telephone
numbers for enquiries of weather and other geophysical
information are listed in the calendar.
The beautifully printed and attractively presented
calendar will be an excellent Christmas and New Year gift
for friends and relatives. The calendar is now on sale at
$46 a copy at the Government Publication Centre, Low
Block, Ground Floor, Queensway Government Offices, 66
Queensway, Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Observatory
Headquarters, 134A Nathan Road, Kowloon.
Meanwhile, latest weather forecasts and bulletins
together with detailed information on publications and
other activities of the Observatory can be found on the
Hong Kong Observatory Home Page at:
http://www.info.gov.hk/hko/.
For further information, please contact Mr H P Chan
at 2926 8246.
End
11. Water storage figure
********************
Storage in Hong Kong's reservoirs at 9 am today
(Monday) stood at 85.6 per cent of capacity or 501.522
million cubic metres.
This time last year the reservoirs contained 538.77
million cubic metres of water, representing 91.9 per cent
of capacity.
End
