SUNDAY, MAY 13, 1979
3
IN ADDITION TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE ACCOMMODATION IN FOU WAH CENTRE AND HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK BUILDING, TWO TOWN OFFICES WHICH ARE EQUIVALENT TO THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREAS, WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1976 AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
SEVEN PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES HAVE ALSO BEEN OPENED TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC AND ANSWER ANY QUERIES FROM THEM.
THESE OFFICES KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF ALL VISITS WHICH INCLUDE BOTH COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS.
DURING THE PAST 15 MONTHS, 462 COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG AND 275 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE ON MATTERS CONCERNING HOUSING, EDUCATION AND WELFARE SERVICES WERE RECEIVED.
BUT THESE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE ALL MATTERS ARISING FROM LAND RESUMPTIONS AND CLEARANCES AND THE PROVISION OF SIMPLE INFORMATION OR DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS FORMS.
+IN EVERY CASE, AN INVESTIGATION IS CONDUCTED AND ACTION TAKEN WHERE WARRANTED OR FEASIBLE EITHER BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE OR BY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED,+ MR. HAYES EXPLAINED.
HE SAID MANY COMPLAINANTS SENT LETTERS WHILE OTHER APPROACHED INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS DIRECTLY OR THROUGH LOCAL SOCIETIES, SUCH AS RURAL COMMITTEES, WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS AND THE FEDERATION OF TSUEN WAN SOCIETIES.
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE SEVEN AREA COMMITTEES AND THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IN TSUEN WAN ALSO BROUGHT UP POINTS THAT CAME TO THEIR NOTICE TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
+AT PRESENT I AM AS MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT FOSTERING THIS LOCAL INPUT, IN PERSON OR THROUGH LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS, AS I AM ABOUT OUR CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH COMPLAINTS,+ MR. HAYES SAID.
*WE HOPE THAT RESIDENTS' INPUT, SUGGESTIONS AS WELL AS COMPLAINTS, WILL INCREASE IN VOLUME AND VALUE, AND THAT OUR CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS BROUGHT TO US WILL INCREASE AS DEVELOPMENT NEEDS DIMINISH OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, HE ADDED.
/4