WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1980
THE LANDSCAPE STUDIES TO WHICH HE REFERRED HAD SUGGESTED WAYS IN WHICH THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED IN PLACES WHERE LAND RESOURCES WERE LIMITED.
+BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW THE LAND NEEDED FOR VILLAGE EXPANSION AND EXTENSION IS OFTEN PRIVATELY OWNED, AND ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO FIND A MEANS TO ACQUIRE IT AND THEN TO ENSURE THAT THE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT IS PROPERLY PLANNED WITH THE NECESSARY PATHS, DRAINS AND ACCESS, SIR MURRAY SAID.
+! UNDERSTAND FROM THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES THAT A JOINT WORKING GROUP WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.+
SIR MURRAY SAID COUNTRY PARKS COVERING THE WHOLE
OF THE UPLAND AND REMOTE AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD BEEN FORMALLY ESTABLISHED. THERE WAS ALREADY VISIBLE IMPROVEMENT
IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PARKS AND OF MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION AND ENJOYMENT.
+I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP AND COOPERATION OF THE RURAL COMMITTEES AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK IN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THIS PROGRAMME- AND, ON THE RELATED SUBJECT, THEIR HELP AND ADVICE IN DEALING WITH THE PERENNIAL PROBLEM OF HILL FIRES.+
THE LEADERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK HAD THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT USEFUL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE, SIR MURRAY SAID.
THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE KUK AND THE RURAL COMMITTEES WOULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART AT THIS TIME OF TRANSITION AND CHANGE IN ENSURING THE GROWTH OF A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
SIR MURRAY SAID IN THE MIDST OF THIS +EXCITING PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE+ HE HAD TO THANK MR LAU FOR HIS TIMELY ADVICE NOT TO OVERLOOK THE NEEDS OF VILLAGES.
+1 AM GLAD TO SAY ELECTRICITY IS BEING CONNECTED TO SOME OF THE FEW REMAINING VILLAGES IN SAI KUNG WITHOUT A SUPPLY, AND THAT THE STREET LIGHTING, WATER SUPPLY AND LOCAL PUBLIČ WORKS PROGRAMMES, WHICH ARE SO VITAL TO THE WELL BEING OF VILLAGES, WILL CONTINUE. +
THE HEUNG YEE KUK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1926 AND MADE A STATUTORY BODY IN 1960. MR LAU WONG-FAT WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN AT THE 24TH TERM ELECTIONS HELD AT THE END OF MAY, SUCCEEDING MR STEPHEN WONG. MR LIU YUN-SUM WAS ELECTED FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN AND MR TSANG LIN SECOND VICE-CHAIRMAN.