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THE NEW TERRITORIES:
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM
28. I spoke last year of the changed face of the
New Territories; of the emergence on the one hand of
large new centres of population and industry or of
intensive horticulture, and on the other of the wide
use of the rest of the area for recreation and tourism. use
I described the new type of regionalised consultation
and administration your Government proposed to set up.
proposals
29 The establishment of District Advisory Boards in
November last was an immediate success. The Boards
have been active, insistent and constructive;
affecting the growth and development of each town or
region are discussed, and local views taken into account
at the planning stage before final departmental submissions
are made. The Boards are also making full use of their
funds for recreational and cultural activities and for
minor works to improve their towns. They have become the
natural channels for local advice to Government departments.
In short they are beginning to provide the partnership
between residents and Government in the development of
each town or region that was so badly needed.
30 Some basic reorganisation of the administration in
the New Territories is also needed to ensure that administrativ
activities are coordinated regionally and integrated with the
work of the Boards, so that Government departments can be