THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1981
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+THE FIRST DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE URBAN AREA WILL CONSIST OF A MAJORITY OF APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS EITHER RESIDENT OR HAVING A STRONG INTEREST IN THEIR DISTRICTS THEY WILL WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MORE IMPORTANT SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT. IN ADDITION THERE WILL BE SEATS FOR URBAN COUNCILLORS.
+AMONG THE APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS ABOUT HALF-IN THE CASE OF KWUN TONG 12 - WILL BE AREA COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN. THEIR TERM WILL EXTEND FROM THE IR DATE OF APPOINTMENT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 1982.
+HOWEVER, FOR THE SECOND TERM, WHICH WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER 1982 AND EXTEND FOR 3 YEARS, ABOUT HALF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL BE ELECTED ON A CONSTITUENCY BASIS WITHIN DISTRICTS. THE NUMBER OF SEATS TO BE FILLED BY APPOINTED MEMBERS WILL THEN BE REDUCED BY ABOUT HALF AND THE NEW APPOINTEES WILL BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION HAVE BEEN DECLARED. AT THAT TIME IN ADDITION TO SEATS FOR A FEW OFFICIALS, THERE WILL BE SEATS ON THE KWUN TONG BOARD FOR TWELVE ELECTED UNOFFICIALS AND FOR UP TO TWELVE APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS.
+DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WILL PLACE INCREASING RESPONSIBILITIES ON AREA COMMITTEES TO ENSURE THAT AREA REPRESENTATIVES, WHETHER, AS IN THE FIRST TERM, THEIR OWN CHAIRMEN OR, AS IN SUBSEQUENT ONES, CONSTITUENCY ELECTED, ARE FULLY AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITHIN THEIR AREAS AND ARE ACTING ON THEM APPROPRIATELY ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS. RELY ON THE AREA COMMITTEES TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE.
IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SCHEME THAT IT SHOULD BE ROOTED IN NEIGHBOURHOOD PROBLEMS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE DAY TO DAY RUNNING OF MANY PUBLIC SERVICES CAN BE MADE MORE EFFECTIVE IF THOSE WHO USE THEM HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE ON HOW THEY ARE RUN. THIS DEMANDS THAT THEY ARE CONSULTED ON THE PLANNING OF THESE SERVICES, AND THAT DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE AN INCREASING INFLUENCE ON THE WAY GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES ARE DRAFTED AND IMPLEMENTED TO MEET DISTRICT NEEDS. IT WILL BE DEMANDING WORK FOR UNOFFICIALS IT WILL ALSO MAKE VERY SUBSTANTIAL DEMANDS ON OFFICIALS AND A STRONG MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPLEMENT TO THE WORK OF DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE URBAN AREA AS HAS BEEN PROVED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+FOR THIS NEW EXPERIMENT TO WORK, ON THE ONE HAND UNOFFICIAL ADVICE MUST BE TIMELY, WELL INFORMED AND CONSTRUCTIVE AND ON THE OTHER HAND THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE ABLE AND WILLING TO RESPOND TO IT QUICKLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY BY THIS I MEAN BY EITHER DOING WHAT IS ASKED, OR BY GIVING A CONVINCING EXPLANATION OF WHY IT CANNOT BE DONE, OR DONE AT THAT TIME. ONLY BY SUCH A TWO WAY EXCHANGE CAN THE PARTNERSHIP BE FORMED TO MOUNT AN EFFECTIVE ATTACK ON DISTRICT PROBLEMS.
+ IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATIVE PATTERN WHICH WE SEE TAKING SHAPE IN KWUN TONG TO-DAY, SHOULD BRING A BREATH OF FRESH AIR INTO ADMINISTRATION IN THE 1980S.
I WISH THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD SUCCESS, AND I PROMISE MY INTEREST AND MY SUPPORT.+
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