FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1980
NEW OFFICE TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AND
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
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A NEW DIVISION HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO PROMOTE AND CO-ORDINATE CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THE DIVISION, KNOWN AS THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION, HAS TAKEN OVER FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED
OUT THAT THE DECISION, THE RESULT OF AN ORGANISATIONAL STUDY CARRIED OUT LAST YEAR, WAS FIRST MENTIONED BY THE GOVERNOR
IN HIS ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF A NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 10, 1979.
AS EXPLAINED SUBSEQUENTLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE AIM IS TO BRING TOGETHER UNDER ONE SECRETARY, POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN RECREATION AND CULTURE.
MR BARR JE WIGGHAM, WHO IS ALREADY GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ARTS FESTIVAL AND THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY, HAS BEEN APPOINTED EXECUTIVE HEAD OF THE NEW DIVISION AND WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, AS WELL AS FOR POLICY ASPECTS OF RECREATION IN COUNTRY PARKS.
CENSUS TO PROVIDE BASIS FOR FUTURE PLANNING
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A CENSUS IS NOT MERELY A COUNT OF HEADS BUT ALSO A
CLASS IF ICATION OF POPULATION INTO DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS GROUPS SO AS TO PROVIDE A BASIS ON WHICH SOUND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE CAN BE MADE, MR JOSEPH LEE, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS (SOCIAL) SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, HE SAID: WE MUST HAVE UP-TO-DATE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THESE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION IN ORDER TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PLANS.
+WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT SUCH PLANS IF WE WANT TO HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING AND ADEQUATE TRANSPORT FOR OURSELVES, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND THE MANY OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AND MEDICAL CARE FOR THOSE IN SPECIAL NEED, HE SAID.
MR LEE ALSO LIKENED THE PILOT CENSUS, TO BE HELD JUST BEFORE THE COMING LUNAR NEW YEAR FOR BOAT PEOPLE AND IN MARCH FOR SOME 20 000 HOUSEHOLDS ON LAND, TO A 'DRESS REHEARSAL'.
THE 1981 CENSUS IS A VERY COMPLEX STATISTICAL EXERCISE- ONCE IT IS SET OFF THERE IS NO CHANGE OF CHANGING ITS COURSE, HE SAID.
/IR FILL