13
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979
GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE
DEPARTMENTAL CO-ORDINATION AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE DEPARTMENTAL CO-ORDINATION AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN THE URBAN AREAS, THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. JOHN WALDEN SAID IN THE RESUMED ANNUAL DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
MR. WALDEN SAID A CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE WAS APPOINTED ON NOVEMBER 1 AS THE FIRST STEP TO STRENGTHEN THE CDO IN THE DISTRICT.
+THE NEW COMMISSIONER AND THE PRESENT CITY DISTRICT OFFICER AND HIS STAFF WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING OUT MEANS, IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, TO ENSURE THAT THE TOTAL GOVERNMENT EFFORT IN THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT IS BETTER CO-ORDINATED AND DIRECTED TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO LIVE THERE, HE SAID.
FURTHERMORE, HE NOTED A DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE SET UP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
THE DEPARTMENTS PRINCIPALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT WOULD BE REPRESENTED ON THE COMMITTEE, HE ADDED.
MR. WALDEN SAID THIS TEAM WILL STUDY THE WHOLE RANGE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMMES THAT EXIST OR ARE PLANNED FOR THE DISTRICT.
+IT WILL ALSO CONSIDER WHAT ADDITIONAL CO-ORDINATING MACHINERY IS NEEDED TO ENSURE A QUICK GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS ARISING IN THE DISTRICT.+
MR. WALDEN SAID IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO CHANGE IMMEDIATELY THE EXISTING SYSTEM FOR LOCAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION,
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THIS VITAL ASPECT OF THE RE-ORGANISATION WOULD BE EXAMINED CAREFULLY WITH THE AIM OF BRINGING RESPONSIBLE LOCAL OPINION TO BEAR UPON AND PARTICIPATE MORE IN THE CONDUCT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT AN EARLY DATE.
+THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE STEADY RATHER THAN SPECTACULAR PROGRESS TOWARDS MORE EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT BY PROVED MEASURES THAT WILL LEND THEMSELVES TO ADOPTION IN OTHER URBAN DISTRICTS WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT TO DO SO, HE NOTED.
MR. WALDEN ASSURED THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT THAT THESE PROPOSALS DO HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND STATUTORY BODIES CONCERNED.
HE ALSO