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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1980
HE FELT IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN THE PARITY OF APPOINTED MEMBERS WITH ELECTED MEMBERS IN THE URBAN COUNCIL SO LONG AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC LACKED INTEREST IN ELECTIONS.
+PARITY CAN BE REVIEWED AT SOME FUTURE TIME WHEN IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS IF THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOWS A MUCH BIGGER INTEREST IN THE ELECTIONS COUPLED WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF CANDIDATES OF HIGHER CALIBRE, HE SAID.
MR HU CONSIDERED THAT THE SUCCESS OF DISTRICT BOARDS DEPENDED ON THE FORMATION OF DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WHICH, IN TURN, DEPENDED ON THE REGIONAL ISATION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
AS THE BOARDS' SUCCESS ALSO RELIED ON LOCAL SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT, HE SAID IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO ENCOURAGE CANDIDATES OF HIGH CALIBRE ACTUALLY RESIDING IN THE DISTRICTS TO STAND FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARDS.
HE ALSO SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF ADULT SUFFRAGE FOR RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 21, BUT ELECTORS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
+THIS REQUIREMENT WILL ENSURE THAT ELIGIBLE ELECTORS ARE PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND AS HONG KONG BELONGERS WILL BE MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THEM BECAUSE OF THE IR SENSE OF BELONGING. THEY MUST ALSO HAVE RECEIVED A MINIMUM OF NINE YEARS' EDUCATION WHICH IS IN LINE WITH OUR PRESENT EDUCATION POLICY.+
PEOPLE ALREADY REGISTERED AS ELECTORS IN THE CURRENT REGISTER OF ELECTORS FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHTS IRRESPECTIVE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS.
ON THE SUBJECT OF CLEANLINESS, MR HU URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AT SOURCE BY AMENDING THE LAW TO MAKE REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS A COMPULSORY REQUIREMENT FOR NEW BUILDINGS.
+ THE CHAMBERS SHOULD BE OF A SIZE RELATIVE TO THE FLOOR AREA AND USE OF THE BUILDING, AND SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES.+
BUT HE FELT THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PUBLIC AWARENESS ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IF THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN IS TO ACHIEVE REAL SUCCESS.
+THEREFORE, WE SHOULD INTENSIFY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN ORDER TO ENLIST THE SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC.+
HE ALSO CALLED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN FINES TO DETER PEOPLE FROM LITTERING THE STREETS.
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