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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1982
CNTA SECRETARY'S EVE-OF-POLL MESSAGE TO VOTERS
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THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE BELIEVED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD SHOW THEIR CONCERN FOR THE ISSUES WHICH AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES BY TURNING OUT TO VOTE IN TOMORROW'S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
HE DESCRIBED THE BOARDS AS AN EXTENSION OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SPECIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSULTATION WHICH HAD BEEN EVOLVED IN HONG KONG.
+NOT GOVERNMENT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, BUT A SYSTEM PECULIARLY ADAPTED TO OUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES TO INVOLVE THE PEOPLE IN DECISIONS WHICH AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES, HE SAID.
+OVER 700 000 PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE TOMORROW
AND I BELIEVE THE ELECTIONS WILL CONFIRM OUR BELIEF THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR DISTRICTS, THE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY FACILITIES, TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ALL THE THINGS THAT AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES, AND WILL SHOW THE IR CONCERN, AND DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE, BY TURNING OUT TO VOTE.+
MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTIONS WHICH ARE TO BE HELD IN THE 10 DISTRICTS OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON.
A TOTAL OF 170 POLLING STATIONS WILL BE OPEN BETWEEN 7 AM AND 11 PM FOR THE 706 000 REGISTERED ELECTORS TO CAST THE IR VOTES FOR THE 227 CANDIDATES STANDING FOR THE 74 SEATS ON THE 10 DISTRICT BOARDS.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE ELECTIONS CAME AT THE END OF A 10-YEAR PERIOD IN WHICH HONG KONG HAD UNDERGONE A PERIOD OF DRAMATIC CHANGE.
+ IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECALL THAT IT WAS ONLY 1971 THAT THE DRY RATIONS AND COOKED MEALS OF THE FIFTIES AND THE SIXTIES WERE REPLACED BY CASH PAYMENTS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, THAT UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION, AND NOW SECONDARY EDUCATION, HAS BEEN INTRODUCED.
+ IT HAS BEEN A PERIOD IN WHICH WE HAVE MADE A CONCERTED ATTACK ON THE PROBLEMS OF HOUSING, CRIME, POLLUTION, CLEANLINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. DURING THIS TIME
DURING THIS TIME, TOO, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, AREA COMMITTEES, DISTRICT FIGHT' CRIME COMMITTEES AND CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEES WERE FORMED.
+NOW, BUILDING ON THIS PLATFORM OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN SHAPE, AND NOW, AS A CULMINATION OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS, DISTRICT ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT TO BE HELD THROUGHOUT HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES THANKED THE MEDIA FOR ALL THE SUPPORT IT HAD GIVEN IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ELECTIONS AND IN PUBLICISING THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR CAMPAIGNS.