WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
· 11
PUBLIC URGED TO DEMONSTRATE INTEREST IN UC ELECTIONS
****
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG MUST WAKE UP AND VISIBLY DEMONSTRATE THE IR INTEREST IN THOSE THEY CHOOSE TO REPRESENT THEM ON THE URBAN COUNCIL WHICH EXERCISES SO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER THE COMMUNITY'S DAILY LIFE.
THIS WAS THE MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TO THE 568 537 REGISTERED VOTERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 8.
ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF BAYVIEW TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE COUNCIL, AND THE URBAN SERVICES IT COMMANDS, EXERCISE SO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER OUR DAILY LIVES AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SO MUCH WE ADMIRE OR DISLIKE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT AS A PEOPLE WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND TAKE MORE INTEREST IN THE PEOPLE WE CHOOSE TO REPRESENT US+.
AFTER ALL, HE SAID, THE COUNCIL AND USD SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS OF OUR MONEY EVERY YEAR.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS, HE NOTED, INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS HAD BEEN DISAPPOINTING AND VARIOUS REASONS HAD BEEN ADVANCED, INCLUDING THAT THE ELECTORATE WAS TOO SMALL AND THE COUNCIL TOO REMOTE. IT HAD ALSO BEEN ASKED WHAT PEOPLE COULD DO TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM OR MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE LAST TEN YEARS HAD CHANGED ALL THIS, HE SAID, ADDING THAT NOW WAS THE TIME FOR EVERYONE WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO SHOW HIS SUPPORT FOR THE CANDIDATE OF HIS CHOICE AND THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL.
EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE OF YOUR CHOICE, SAID MR AKERS-JONES.
+ IT IS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM, A VOTE OF SUPPORT,
A VOTE OF THANKS AND A VOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
MOREOVER, HE ADDED, THE COUNCILLORS ELECTED THIS TIME WILL ADD A FURTHER DEGREE OF REFINEMENT AND INTEREST TO THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL BECAUSE EACH COUNCILLOR WILL BRING TO THE COUNCIL SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY, KNOWLEDGE AND CONCERN FOR HIS OWN CONSTITUENCY AND DISTRICT. THIS MEANS THAT SHAU KEI WAN WILL SPEAK FOR AND BE ANSWERABLE TO SHAU KEI WAN, AND SHAM SHUI PO FOR SHAM SHUI PO.
THE URBAN COUNCIL IS BEHIND IT ALL, MR AKERS-JONES SAID,
FROM SPACE MUSEUM TO STREET SWEEPING.
THE 'BIG BHOOM' OF THE COUNCIL, FOR INSTANCE, SWEPT CENTRAL DISTRICT FOUR TIMES A DAY, AND TWICE THAT MANY TIMES IN CROWDED PLACES. EDINBURGH PLACE ALONE WAS SWEPT EIGHT TIMES A DAY, WHICH WAS UNMATCHED IN PLACES LIKE LONDON OR NEW YORK.
THERE HA