THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1979
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FURTHERMORE, THE EFFORTS OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PROMOTION OF ART SHOULD BE SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY BY THE GOVERNMENT. AMATEUR GROUPS WILL SOONER OR LATER LEAD TO PROFESSIONAL GROUPS AND IF FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS REQUIRED, THE GOVERNMENT MUST EXERT CONTROL IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE PURPOSE, ORGANISATION AND DETAILS WILL FIT INTO AN OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, HE SAID.
IN THE AREA OF SPORT PROMOTION, MR. HU COMMENDED THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME WHICH OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNING SPORT BODIES TO HELP THEM ENGAGE SECRETARIES AND MEET LIMITED OFFICE EXPENSES. HE URGED THAT IT BE EXPANDED TO OFFER MORE ASSISTANCE AND TO INCLUDE OTHER BODIES, WHILE THE SMALLER BODIES SHOULD BE HELPED BY A CENTRAL SECRETARÍAT.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE CARE NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE RUNNING OF THEIR BUSINESS AS THEIR INDEPENDENCE MUST BE MAINTAINED AND RESPECTED. THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE REQUIRES THEIR CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF THE RELEVANT SPORT, SINCE IT APPEARS THAT ITS PRESENT EMPHASIS IS ON MASS PARTICIPATION RATHER THAN QUALITY, HE ADDED.
MR. HU WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH HE SAID IS STILL LAGGING BEHIND THE URBAN AREAS.
HE SUGGESTED THAT PRIVATE NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO UNDERTAKE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE FACILITIES, SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
GOVT URGED TO BE ACTIVE IN SOLICITING VIEWS FROM PUBLIC
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THE HON. WONG LAM URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE ACTIVE WHEN IT SOLICITS THE VIEWS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, MR, WONG ACKNOWLEDGED THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS IN PROVIDING CHANNELS FOR THE PUBLIC TO MAKE KNOWN THE IR VIEWS BUT POINTED OUT THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS, TO A VERY LARGE EXTENT, WERE +PASSIVE AND DEPENDENT ON THE PEOPLE TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO LODGE COMPLAINTS OR EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.
+ONLY TO A VERY SMALL EXTENT DOES THE GOVERNMENT TAKE ACTIVE STEPS TO SOLICIT VIEWS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY THE SILENT MAJORITY, AND EVEN WHEN THIS IS DONE IT IS GENERALLY ISSUE OR PROGRAMME ORIENTATED, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT EVEN LEAVING ASIDE STRICT STATISTICAL REQUIREMENTS, SUCH SURVEYS AT BEST WILL ONLY BRING FORTH THE OPINION OF SOME OUTSPOKEN PEOPLE ON CERTAIN TOPICS.
+THEY WILL NOT ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO KNOW OR FULLY APPRECIATE THE REAL CONCERNS AND VIEWS OF THE GREAT MAJORITY AT A GIVEN TIME, HE SAID.
WHILE HE