WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1981
DISTRICT BOARDS ARE NOT A COSMETIC, GOVERNOR SAYS
THE GOVERNOR
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SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) JOINED THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AT ITS FIRST MEETING. HE CONGRATULATED MEMBERS ON THE IR APPOINTMENT AND THANKED THEM FOR AGREEING TO TAKE ON THE WORK.
+THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WORK AND IT WILL NOT BE EASY. THE DISTRICT BOARDS ARE NOT A COSMETIC. THEY REPRESENT A
RECOGNITION BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE PROBLEMS, AND THE BLACK SPOTS AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF DISTRICTS CANNOT BE DEALT WITH BY THE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT THE CONSTANT ADVICE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THAT DISTRICT.+
HE SAID THE BOARD WOULD BE CLOSELY SUPPORTED BY ABLE AND AUTHORITATIVE OFFICIALS ON THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
THE GOVERNOR WATCHED A SLIDE PRESENTATION OF WORK UNDERTAKEN AND PLANNED BY THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. HE NOTED THAT MUCH OF THE WORK INVOLVED LITTLE SPECIAL EXPENDITURE BUT REQUIRED A DETERMINED AND CO-ORDINATED APPROACH BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE BOARD'S ROLE WOULD BE TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP.
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE FOR MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS. THIS MAY WELL BE INCREASED IN FUTURE YEARS.
+ BUT THIS IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE FUNDS WHICH GOVERNMENT THROUGH ITS VARIOUS PROGRAMMES WILL SPEND IN WONG TAI SIN IN THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. OFFICIALS WILL INFORM AND CONSULT DISTRICT BOARDS IN BROAD OUTLINE ON THIS EXPENDITURE AND IT IS IN THE INFLUENCE THAT THE BOARD CAN EXERT ON THIS EXPENDITURE THAT THE IR REAL FINANCIAL POWER WILL REST, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED THE DISTRICT BOARDS AS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG FOR A LONG TIME. ITS SUCCESS WOULD DEPEND ON THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SPEAKING OF GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION THAT A PROPORTION OF EACH BOARD SHOULD EVENTUALLY BE ELECTED, HE SAID, +1 VERY MUCH HOPE THAT SOME SITTING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS WELL AS OTHERS WILL CONSIDER STANDING FOR ELECTION AND THUS GIVE A LEAD IN THIS NEW PROCESS.✦
MEMBERS DISCUSSED A WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE GOVERNOR BEFORE THE BOARD EMBARKED ON ITS FIRST AGENDA.
IN HIS SPEECH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, MR 1.R. STRACHAN, SAID IT COMMENCED WORK WITH THE RECOGNITION OF +THE MOMENTOUS TASKS LYING AHEAD+, INCLUDING INADEQUATE AND UNCONTROLLED PARKING OF VEHICLES, SQUATTER PROBLEMS, AND THE DEMAND FOR MORE RECREATIONAL, SPORTS AND CULTURAL FACILITIES.
/BUT THE