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17
Wednesday, November 1, 1972
WIDER USE OF AREA COMMITTEES TO TACKLE LOCAL PROBLEMS
The Hon. Wilson T.S. Wang today called for the "mobilisation of
responsible citizens" in each neighbourhood to tackle the wide range of
local problems.
Speaking in the Legislative Council this afternoon, Mr. Wang
said a good example of this approach was the 74 area committees embracing
some 40,000 voluntary workers in the "Clean Hong Kong" campaign.
"There should be a similar approach to the question of local
community involvement in many other matters such as crime, traffic, fire-
fighting, environmental hygiene and even the problem of schooling and other
social services," he said.
For each of these activities, it would be helpful to have a
committee for each area, consisting mainly of local people.
The area committee system would have to be matched by a delegation
of officers from their respective departments who would be able to sit around
the same table to discuss ways and means of improving their service in each
field and neighbourhood.
"What is needed," Mr. Wang said, "is some arrangement whereby the
views and needs of the people in the neighbourhood can be translated into
action through their own involvement."
By these means people would acquire a sense of participation and
a greater sense of belonging.
"Involvement must replace apathy and action against irregularities
must replace the passive acceptance of things which are wrong,
" he added.
/Speaking on