WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1978
}
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ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES
******
THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING SOME BASIC REORGANISATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SO THAT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CAN BE MORE DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL NEEDS.
THE MOVE IS ALSO AIMED AT ENSURING THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE CO-ORDINATED REGIONALLY AND INTEGRATED WITH THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, ANNOUNCED THIS TODAY AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND GAVE A GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM TO BE
IMPLEMENTED.
THE REORGANISATION WILL INVOLVE SOME SHIFT OF EMPHASIS FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF SOME DEPARTMENTS TO REGIONAL OFFICES IN THE MAIN CENTRES OF POPULATION.
+AS THIS CHANGE IS GRADUALLY IMPLEMENTED IT WILL PROBABLY ALSO AFFECT THE ROLE OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES. SO THAT HE WILL BE LESS INVOLVED IN THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION AND MORE CONCERNED WITH THE BROAD ISSUES, SUCH AS THOSE, FOR INSTANCE, WITH WHICH THE HEUNG YEE KUK IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.
REGULAR INCREASES IN STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES MUST BE PROVIDED TO KEEP PACE WITH POPULATION GROWTH AND TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH STANDARDS TO WHICH THE TOWKS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE BEING BUILT, HE ADDED. THIS ILL AFFECT MANY DEPARTMENTS, BUT PARTICULARLY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
+
COMMENTING ON THE ESTAEL ISHMENT OF DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS LAST NOVEMBER, SIR MURRAY DESCRIBED IT AS AN IMMEDIATE SUCCESS.+
HE PRAISED THE BOARDS FOR BEING ACTIVE, INSISTENT AND CONSTRUCTIVE. PROPOSALS 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,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.
+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.+
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