SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1977
SIICANT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 1 TACKLING SOCIAL PROBLEMS ******
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF CHANGE IN HONG KONG IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN THE INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN TACKLING SOCIAL PROBLEMS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY.
IN AN ADDRESS TO THE 12TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE HONG KONG JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HE SAID MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAD BECOME INVOLVED IN THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS, ON BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, IN THE CAMPAIGNS TO FIGHT CRIME AND CLEAN MONG KONG, TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO DEVELOP RECREATION AND THE USE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE.
+EVEN AT A LOCAL LEVEL, THE FORMATION OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES TO IMPROVE THE CLEANLINESS AND SECURITY OF OUR MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS IS HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT+, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.
HE SAID THERE WERE NOW 2,300 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, AND WE SHOULD NOT REST UNTIL EVERY BUILDING WHICH NEEDS IT HAS A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THIS KIND.+
MR. AKERS-JONES SAID PART OF HIS JOB WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE INVOLVED IN THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE IR COMMUNITY.
+THIS IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE NEW TERRITORIES IS FACING A POPULATION EXPLOSION. IN THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE WILL MOVE TO THE NEW HOMES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.+
HE SAID THEY WOULD NOT ONLY NEED THE ESSENTIALS FOR URBAN LIFE SUCH AS SCHOOLS, POLICE AND FIRE STATIONS AND RECREATION AREAS, BUT IT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE NEW RESIDENTS SHOULD FEEL A SENSE OF IDENTITY AND INTEREST AND PRIDE IN THEIR LOCAL TOWN.
THE PAST 20 YEARS HAVE SEEN MANY CHANGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, IN PARTICULAR THE RURAL COMMITTEES AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK, HAVE PLAYED AN INVALUABLE PART DURING THIS PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT AND CHANGE, HE SAID.
+ NOW WE PROPOSE TO TAKE ANOTHEF STEP TO FORMALISE THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION ON RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND ON THE LOCAL IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT'S OVERALL POLICIES AND PLANS, AND TO MAKE A SUITABLE PROVISION OF FUNDS AT A LOCAL LEVEL SO THAT THE RESIDENTS OF EACH TOWN CAN ORGANISE AND PAY FOR EVENTS FOR THEIR OWN ENJOYMENT AND HAVE AVAILABLE SOME MONEY, TO BE SPENT AS THEY DECIDE, ON MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS.
+THUS ANOTHER STRAND IS BEING WOVEN INTO THE TEXTURE OF THE FABRIC OF OUR HONG KONG SOCIETY. IT IS ALL PART OF THAT WIDER THEME THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN FOR YOUR CONVENTION - SERVICE TO HUMANITY',+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.
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