FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1980
3
+THIS IS CLEARLY ANOMALOUS,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN. +WHAT IS NEEDED IS THAT THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PRESENT COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS BE MORE CLEARLY RECOGNISED, AND THAT THE WEIGHT OF THEIR ADVICE BE GIVEN GREATER AUTHORITY,+
IT WAS ANTICIPATED, HE SAID, THAT THE WORK OF THE BOARDS SHOULD GENERATE GREATER INTEREST BY LOCAL RESIDENTS BY VIRTUE OF THE ADDED SPUR OF ACCOUNTABILITY. WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A CONSTITUENCY BASIS FOR ELECTIONS TO THE BOARDS THERE WOULD BE A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE ELECTORATE AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES.+
THE PRECISE COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS MIGHT VARY IN EACH DISTRICT ACCORDING TO LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT IN GENERAL TERMS THEY WOULD COMPRISE DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS, THE CHAIRMEN OF THE RURAL COMMITTEES ELECTED AS AT PRESENT, APPOINTED MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WOULD BE THE TOWN MANAGER OR DISTRICT OFFICER.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO CHANGE THE PART PLAYED BY THE KEUNG YEE KUK, RURAL COMMITTEES OR VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES.
i
HE EXPLAINED: +THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY THEIR TRADITIONAL VALUABLE ROLE, NOT ONLY IN THE RURAL AREAS BUT ALSO AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES LIVING IN THE MORE DEVELOPED AREAS.
+THEY WILL PROVIDE A MEANS BY WHICH THEIR PARTICULAR INTERESTS IN LAND, RURAL HOUSING AND RURAL TRADITION CAN BE DISCUSSED WITH GOVERNMENT.+
GOVERNMENT WILL WISH TO LEARN THE VIEWS OF SUCH BODIES ON THE PROPOSALS AT FIRST HAND.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE FUNCTION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS HAD BEEN TO EXAMINE THOSE PARTS OF CENTRAL PROGRAMME WHICH AFFECT TOWNS AND DISTRICTS, AND TO STIMULATE AND TO GUIDE DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIALS ACROSS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION THROUGH ADVICE AND DISCUSSION.+
EIGHT OF THESE BOARDS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED COVERING ALL DISTRICTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE SAID THOUGH STILL NEW, THEY ARE FUNCTIONING WELL AND CLEARLY FILL A DEEPLY-FELT LOCAL NEED. THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, PROPOSES BUILDING ON THEM AS THE BASIS FOR LOCAL ADVICE AND PARTICIPATION.
+THE PROPOSALS ARE PUT FORWARD FOR A MORE FORMAL AND COHERENT FRAMEWORK FOR CONTACT, DISCUSSION, STIMULUS, AND ADVICE BETWEEN COMMUNITIES IN EACH DISTRICT AND THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT.
AS FOR THE PROPOSALS FOR THE URBAN AREA, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXPERIMENT IN KWUN TONG WHICH WAS ALREADY PROVING SUCCESSFUL HAD INDICATED THAT THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CO-ORDINATION AND RESPONSIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
/OVER THE