MONDAY, MAY 4, 1981
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COMMONWEALTH VISITORS TOLD ABOUT DISTRICT BOARDS
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THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY MR DENIS BRAY SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THERE WILL BE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS IN DUE COURSE AND IN EACH DISTRICT THEY WILL BE SERVED BY A DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF SENIOR DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER, MR BRAY SAID BECAUSE THE DISTRICT BOARDS ARE ADVISORY, THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE LIMITED IN THE SUBJECTS THEY CONSIDER. +WE HOPED THIS WILL ENABLE THEM TO FOCUS ON ANY ASPECT OF ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS WEAK IN THEIR DISTRICTS.+
HE ALSO SAID THAT IN ORDER TO ADD A NEW ELEMENT OF LOCAL AWARENESS, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THESE BOARDS WILL BE ELECTED FROM CONSTITUENCIES OF ABOUT 25 000 VOTERS ON ADULT SUFFRAGE.
MR BRAY ALSO EXPLAINED TO THE DELEGATES THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION OPERATES, AND SAID THESE ARRANGEMENTS ARE NOT BY THEMSELVES THE ONLY SAFEGUARDS OF A LIBERAL SOCIAL CLIMATE.
+ THE 50 OR MORE DAILY PAPERS, TWO COMMERCIAL TELEVISION STATIONS AND ONE COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION, ARE TIRELESS IN DISHING OUT ADVICE ON HOW TO RUN THINGS.
+THE MEDIA, WHICH IS FREE FROM CENSORSHIP, REFLECT NOT ONLY THE POLITICAL OPINIONS OF PEKING AND TAI WAN BUT A GREAT RANGE OF HOME GROWN PHILOSOPHY.
+PERHAPS MORE FUNDAMENTALLY WE CANNOT LOCK UP PEOPLE WE DON'T LIKE. WE HAVE NO ARBITRARY POWERS OF DETENTION, ANYONE ARRESTED MUST BE CHARGED BEFORE THE COURTS AND OUR JUDICIARY IS KEPT ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION.+
HE SAID WHEN ANYONE EXHAUSTS EVERY AVENUE OF PROTEST IN HONG KONG THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF MEMBERS OF THE WESTMINSTER PARLIAMENT WHO WILL LISTEN TO HIS WOES AND WHO CAN RAISE THE MATTER IN PARLIAMENT IF THEY THINK A WRONG HAS BEEN DONE.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM 15 COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES, INCLUDING U.K., CANADA AND AUSTRALIA ARE ATTENDING THE FIVE-DAY ANNUAL MEETING HOSTED BY HONG KONG.
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