WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981
IMPORTANCE OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME
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IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME AND REALISE THE NEED FOR LOCAL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN IT, AND UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN REGISTER AND VOTE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, HIS OPENING ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
DURING
SIR MURRAY SAID + ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE NEW FORM OF ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NOW BEING CREATED IN EACH DISTRICT.
+ INDEED WITHOUT IT I DO NOT SEE HOW THE PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT SPREADING OUT AND PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED CAN BE CARRIED THROUGH EFFECTIVELY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WISHES OF RESIDENTS.+
SIR MURRAY SAID THE REFORM IN ADMINISTRATION FOLLOWS AN EVOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.
+SO THOUGH THE FORM IS ENTIRELY NEW TO HONG KONG IT IS NOT A STEP IN THE DARK, NOR DOES IT CIRCUMSCRIBE THE ESSENTIAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OR OF THIS COUNCIL, THE URBAN COUNCIL OR THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK.
+NEVERTHELESS THIS PARTNERSHIP IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WILL PRODUCE NEW AND MUCH SHARPER FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF EACH DISTRICT, AND WILL DO SO IN THE LIGHT OF THE VIEWS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF EACH DISTRICT.
+ IT SHOULD MAKE GOVERNMENT LESS FACELESS AND MORE ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A PART IN ADMINISTRATION TO LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE,+ $IR MURRAY SAID.
SO FAR IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. 90 000 APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. REGISTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY DISTRICTS IN MARCH AND APRIL NEXT YEAR AND ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER.
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