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must be explained to the Boards. I understand, for example, that you
have been made aware of the reasons why the Government cannot respond
quickly to your request to provide more secondary school places in the
district itself (though there is no lack of spaces in the adjoining
Central and Westem Districts).
Apart from advising Government on local problems, District
Boards are also expected to reflect public opinion on major issues
affecting the well-being of residents. District Boards have in the past
been consulted on such territory-wide issues as the Junior Secondary
School Places Allocation System, the law on holidays for workers,
helicopter landing sites, the film classification system and legislation
on Weights and Measures. They will continue to be so consulted in
future. As an example of this, you may be interested to hear that the
Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority proposes to set up a
number of district-based television home viewing groups and Advisory
Panels to assist the Government in gauging public attitudes towards
television programmes and advertising standarde.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet you today.
After the meeting, I will have the opportunity to visit several parts
of your district, including Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau and Po Chong Wan, and
I look forward to seeing for myself the rapid development which has
taken place during the last few years. Before I leave, I would like to
hear what you think people in the Southern District want and how you
think you can assist them. It will be valuable to me to hear your views
at first hand and I hope you will be forthright in expressing them.