SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1983
ROLE OF DB MEMBERS OUTLINED
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DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS MUST MAINTAIN THE STANCE OF AN +IMPARTIAL, OBJECTIVE, DISPASSIONATE INVESTIGATOR+ WHEN HANDLING COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FROM RESIDENTS.
A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, DR HO KAM-FAI, SAID THIS TODAY AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED FOR WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
SPEAKING ON THE ROLES OF AN UNOFFICIAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, DR HO SAID THE MEMBER MUST ABSTAIN HIMSELF FROM TAKING SIDE TOO EARLY, AND TRY TO EXAMINE THE MATTER FROM A NEUTRAL POSITION.
UPON RECEIVING A COMPLAINT, THE MEMBER MUST CHECK THE FACTS AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET THE VIEWS OF THOSE PEOPLE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS THE OPINIONS OF THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE.
ALTHOUGH DB MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO REFLECT THE CONCERNS AND QUERIES OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE, DR HO URGED THEM TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER GR NOT THEIR REQUESTS OR COMPLAINTS WERE GENUINE AND WITHIN THE BOARD'S TERMS OF REFERENCE BEFORE SUBMITTING THE ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION AT BOARD MEETINGS.
HE ALSO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE FOR DB MEMBERS TO SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THE REQUESTS OR COMPLAINTS FELL INTO THE JURISDICTION OF THE BODY THEY WERE SERVING, IN OTHER WORDS, DISTRICT-ORIENTED ISSUES.
IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, AFTER HAVING SUBJECTED THE CONTROVERSY TO A RATIONAL SCRUTINY, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER MIGHT HAVE TO EXERCISE HIS PERSONAL INFLUENCE TO PURSUADE HIS CONSTITUENCIES TO GIVE UP THEIR ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF A PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD BETTER SERVE THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE IN THE LONG RUN.
+THIS CALLS FOR GENUINE DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP FROM THE
UNOFFICIAL MEMBER,+ HE SAID.
DR HO IS SENIOR LECTURER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
HE WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER IN THE SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE TO GIVE LOCAL DB MEMBERS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR ROLE, AND GUIDANCE IN DEALING WITH DISTRICT PROBLEMS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL COMMON TO BOTH UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL DB MEMBERS WAS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE DISTRICT.
+THE WORK OF THE UNOFFICIALS, ELECTED AS WELL AS APPOINTED, WOULD THEREFORE BE COMPLEMENTARY TO, RATHER THAN IN COMPETITION WITH, THAT OF THE OFFICIALS.
+THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE RESIDENT'S SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND ASPIRATIONS. THIS INPUT INTO THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL FACILITATE THE GOAL TO BE ACHIEVED EFFICIENTLY.+
/DR HO