17
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
AS THE DISTRICT ECARD IS THE KEY INSTRUMENT IN THIS SCHEME OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM, DR HO WELCOMED THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE DIPECT ELECTIONS TO SEATS ON THE BOARDS BOTH IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT A SCHEME TO INVOLVE THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER WELL CONCEIVED, WOULD NOT GENERATE THE EXPECTED RESULTS, IF IT DID NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE'S SUPPORT.
+WHETHER LOCAL LEADERS WILL COME OUT TO RUN FOR ELECTION WILL DEPEND ON THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT BOURD IN MEETING THEIR DISTRICT'S EXPRESSED NEEDS AND WISHES, HE SAID.
+ THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS CAN DISCHARGE THEIR FUNCTIONS EFFICIENTLY ONLY WHEN THERE IS ADEQUATE STAFF SUPPORT, BOTH IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND QUANTITY.+
DR HO NOTED THAT THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL INEVITABLY NEED TO INCREASE THE IR EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SIGNIFICANTLY TO COPE WITH AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR ACTIVITIES ARISING FROM THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WHITE PAPER.
CFFICERS OF SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE AND SENIORITY WILL BE REQUIRED IN PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS TO SERVE ON DISTRICT PANAGEMENT COMMITTEES SO THAT THEY CAN REACT PROMPTLY TO THE DECISIONS AND RECOVYENDATIONS OF DISTRICT BOARDS.
THE EXISTING ESTABLISHMENT OF CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS ALSO NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED CONSIDERABLY IN ORDER THAT DISTRICT BOARDS CAN BE PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES.
IN ADDITION, SOME DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT YET BEEN REGIONALISED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEIR DISTRICT STAFF CAN HAVE SUFFICIENT RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY TO SERVE EFFICIENTLY ON DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES.
+ALL THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE DEALT WITH URGENTLY AND WITH DETERMINATION BEFORE THE NEW DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME CAN SUCCEED, + DR HO SAID.
+1 THEREFORE EARNESTLY CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY SERIOUS AND URGENT ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE OF MANPOWER PLANNING AMID ITS PREPARATION IN LAUNCHING THE SCHEME.+
THE HON F.K. HU SUGGESTED THAT ELECTED MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BE GIVEN A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE.
A MEMBER OF A DISTRICT BOARD HAS TO SPEND CONSIDERABLE TIME IN ATTENDING MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS, VISITS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO PLAY A USEFUL AND VALUABLE ROLE, HE SAID.
+ENT TIME SPENT WOULD MEAN FINANCIAL OR CAREER SACRIFICE ON THE PART OF THE MEMBER AS HE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND LESS TIME ON HIS CAREER CR EXPLOYMENT AND MIGHT FACE OBJECTION FROM -15 FAMILY OF EMPLOYER.
/- THESE CONSIDERATIONS