FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1980
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SHA TIN PEOPLE TO MANAGE THEIR OWN TOWN
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THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING TO THE TIME WHEN THE PEOPLE OF SHA TIN MANAGE THEIR OWN TOWN, SET THEIR OWN STANDARDS AND PLAN AND INITIATE THEIR OWN LEISURE ACTIVITIES, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.
MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING SERVICE AT CHUNG CHI COLLEGE.
+ONLY WHEN WE ARE APPROACHING THIS STAGE IN OUR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WILL WE BE ABLE TO SAY, "THIS IS A COMMUNITY', HẸ SAID.
+THESE ARE THE SIMPLE UNDERLYING REASONS BEHIND RECENT PROPOSALS FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT.
+WE HAVE GRADUALLY TO REPLACE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ON THE ONE HAND AND PEOPLE ON THE OTHER BY A TRIPLE PARTNERSHIP OF REPRESENTATIVES CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN BY DIRECT ELECTION- OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY REASON OF THE IR QUALITIES OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND, THIRDLY, THOSE GOVERNMENT SERVANTS PRINCIPALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE TOWNS IS MAINTAINED.+
THIS WOULD PROVIDE THE BEST MEANS TO ENSURE THAT STANDARDS WERE KEPT, NEEDS FELT, WISHES FULFILLED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FAILURES AND SHORTCOMINGS UNDERSTOOD, MŘ AKERS-JONES SAID.
HE SAID IN SUPPORT OF THESE MEASURES GOVERNMENT WAS ALREADY TAKING CARE THAT PARTICULAR PHYSICAL FACILITIES WERE PROVIDED TO MEET THE SOCIAL REQUIREMENTS OF SHA TIN SCHOOLS, CLINICS, POLICE STATIONS -- ALL WOULD BE THERE KINDERGARTENS AND OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES- DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR BOY SCOUTS, GIRL GUIDES, CHILDREN'S CHOIRS AND FOOTBALL TEAMS +AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, IN OUR PLANNING WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE JOBS AVAILABLE WITH THE NUMBER OF WORKERS.
+BUT I BELIEVE THAT IN OUR PLANS WE MIGHT HAVE NEGLECTED, OR TO HAVE INSUFFICIENTLY CONSIDERED, ONE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT - THE WOMEN OF THE TOWN YOUNG MOTHERS WHO SPEND MANY HOURS EACH DAY ENCLOSED IN SMALL FLATS ALONE WITH VERY YOUNG CHILDREN- OR, LATER ON, WAITING FOR THEM TO COME HOME FROM SCHOOL, WORRYING ABOUT THE IR CHILDREN'S AMBITIONS AND ATTITUDES AND HOPES FOR THE FUTURE AND ELDERLY WOMEN NEEDING COMPANIONSHIP, AND A SENSE OF USEFULNESS AND PURPOSE.
+ HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THESE THOUGHTS WITH A NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND I WAS ENCOURAGED BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE WITH ME THAT WE MUST TEST THESE ASSUMPTIONS AND, IF THE NEED EXISTS, WE MUST PROVIDE WHATEVER MEANS ARE NECESSARY TO MEET IT IN SHA TIN AND OUR OTHER NEW TOWNS.+
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AKERS-JONA