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CIVIL servants may apply for advance of salary under certain circumstances.
ˇ@In accordance with the Civil Service Regulations(CSR), advance of salary may be approved under the following circumstances and conditions.
(1)CSR 618. An officer may apply for advance of salary not exceeding MPS Pt.21($25,340)to meet the expenses on moving to new accommodation; expenses arising from his or his son/daughter's marriage; expenses of a dependant's funeral; expenses arising from the commencement of his unmarried son/daughter's full-time overseas education; or the legal expenses incurred by the officer in civil proceeding/purchase of self-occupied accomodation.
(2)CSR 620. An officer may apply for advance of salary not exceeding MPS Pt.15($18,915) to cover travelling expenses from and back to Hong Kong in connection with the serious illness or death of his spouse, parent, child, brother, sister(or half brother, half sister) not in Hong Kong.
(3)CSR 622. An officer on approved leave of study leave outside Hong Kong and Macau for a period of not less than 28 days, he may apply for an advance of a month's salary. If the leave is not less than 56 days, he may also apply for the second month's salary. An advance of the third month's salary may be approved only in exceptional circumstaces and under the condition that the leave is not less than three monthe.
(4)CSR 623. An officer selected from outside Hong Kong on first appointment or transfer may apply for an advance of one month's salary before departure for Hong Kong. He may also apply for advance of another month's salary on arrival in Hong Kong.
(5)CSR 624. To meet the expenses arising from unforeseen domestic calamity or serious illness of his own or his dependants, an officer may apply for an advance of salary not exceeding MPS Pt.30($38,285)or three months' salary, whichever is less.
(6)CSR 625. If a serving officer dies and his dependants are left without adequate means of support before settling the estate, the Director of Accounting Services may approve such advances from the outstanding salary, gratuity or pension of the deceased (DSROs/Regional Welfare Officers will take initiative to enquire if the dependants are in financial hardship and render all assistance including such application).
(7)CSR 631. Before Chinses New Year, a salary advance may be given to certain officers. In accordance with HQO No.32/1996 Pt.4, salary advance may be paid to the following officers for Chinese New Year 1997: Those whose substantive salary is below MPS Pt.10(now $14,330)
Amount of Advance: 50 percent of salary. Or, those whose substantive salary is of or above MPS Pt. 10 but below MPS Pt.34(now $45,240)
Amount of Advance: 25 per cent of salary
ˇ@The above are only outlines of the relevant CSRs. For details on eligibility and application procedures, you may consult the General Registry in your formation or call the following offices for enquiries:
Condition of Service Unit: 2860-3621(for CSR 618 and 622)
Condition of Service and Support Group: 2860-3390(for CSR 620)
Personal Emoluments Section: 2860-2337(for CSR 624 and 631)
Regional Welfare Offices (for CSR 625)
HKI: 2804-1580; KW: 2314-2006; KE: 2304-1406; NT: 2418-0516; MAR: 2301-1675

Taking place on 26 October from 3:30 to 5:30pm, the tricks and treats include spooky games, a tunnel of horrors, best costume competition and Halloween tea party. All for the goulishly low price of $85.

On Friday 31 October, screams of fun will be heard poolside as the party gets underway at 7:30pm and goes into the wee hours. Surf and turf BBQ with specialist chefs will present a variety of tasty treats with draught beer and wine free-flowing until 11pm. Comedian Mike Marshall provides the giggles from 9 to 9:45pm, after which a DJ will provide music guaranteed to get partygoers onto the dance floor. Prizes go to the three best-dressed spooks. All yours for $240 per person. Call: 2591-1924 or 2591-1930 for reservations.

One Sunday 26 October from 5:30 to 7:30pm, if you stick your head through one of the holes in the "funny figures board" and get friends or family to throw one of the PCO's famous custard pies at you-you can then buy a drink and get two free. A photograph of the incident is also available.

POC Wine Shop is providing an excellent Italian red (Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Citra 1995) and Italian white(Trebbiano D'Abruzzo, Citra 1995)for $60 per bottle. What a great deal.

Kinnie Chung will be conducting classes Fridays from 7 to 8pm in the Gallery of POC beginning on 17 October. Call: 2557-4711 of page 71176336-8112.ˇ@ˇ@ˇ@ˇ@ˇ@