THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1982
HEUNG YEE KUK'S ROLE REASSURED
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THE HEUNG YEE KUK'S ROLE AS A STATUTORY ADVISORY BODY ON NEW TERRITORIES AFFAIRS AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF INFORMED AND RESPONSIBLE OPINION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE KUK'S 25TH TERM AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL.
+GOVERNMENT AIMS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC WILL AND IT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THOSE PUBLIC BODIES WHICH GIVE EXPRESSION TO THAT WILL,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID.
+THE KUK'S IMPORTANT ROLE IN REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE INDIGENOUS NEW TERRITORIES PEOPLE IS WELL RECOGNISED.+
HE SAID THE RAPID PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD GIVEN RISE TO A NUMBER OF CHANGES, AND HE FULLY AGREED THAT +OUR COMMON OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO ENSURE THAT THE FULL RANGE OF COMMUNITY AND INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES FOR THE RAPIDLY INCREASING POPULATION IS PROVIDED, IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND AT THE RIGHT TIME.+
+THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, BY WHICH DISTRICT DEFICIENCIES AND PROBLEMS CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND REMEDIED, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
+THE MEMBERSHIP OF YOUR RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS IS PROVING A VALUABLE LINK BETWEEN THE KUK AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
+GIVEN THE NEW EMPHASIS ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MAJOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE ORGANISING THEMSELVES ON A REGIONAL OR DISTRICT BASIS TO SUIT DISTRICT DEMANDS.
+IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL DEPARTMENTS, AND IN PARTICULAR THE DISTRICT OFFICES, TO ENSURE THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM IS ABLE TO RECEIVE AND TO RESPOND TO THE ADVICE AND VIEWS OF EACH DISTRICT, QUICKLY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY.
+THE KUK WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT THE BENEFIT OF ITS ADVICE THROUGH ITS REPRESENTATION ON DISTRICT BOARDS THE JOINT MEETINGS OF RURAL COMMITTEE AND DISTRICT OFFICERS AND THE MEETINGS BETWEEN THE KUK AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY, NEW TERRITORIES.+
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE PRESENT UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS RESULTED LARGELY FROM THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE VILLAGE STRUCTURES, WHETHER PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY, HAD BEEN BUILT IN AN UNPLANNED MANNER.
+FOR THE LARGE AREAS FALLING BETWEEN LAYOUT AREAS, GENUINE RURAL VILLAGES AND COUNTRY PARKS, CONSULTANTS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING THE CONCEPT OF A DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE USE OF SMALL CORPORATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING LIMITED RURAL STYLE DEVELOPMENT.+
HE SAID