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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1984
DESCRIBING THE BILL AS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID THE FUNCTION OF THE COUNCIL WOULD BE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON THE PLANNING, INAUGURATION AND OPERATIONAL MATTERS RELATING TO THE FORMATION OF THE FULL COUNCIL.
+IT WILL ALSO ADVISE ON FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION, HYGIENE, AND RECREATION AND CULTURE IN NON-URBAN AREAS.
+THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE 24 MEMBERS 12 TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THREE FROM THE HEUNG YEE KUK NAMELY ITS CHAIRMAN AND TWO VICE-CHAIRMEN, AND NINE MEMBERS WHO WILL BE ELECTED AMONG MEMBERS OF THE NINE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+THE ELECTION OF ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE NINE NT DISTRICT BOARDS WILL TAKE PLACE IN APRIL NEXT YEAR, SHORTLY AFTER THE DB ELECTIONS, SO THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE FULLY CONSTITUTED BY MAY 1.
+THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FROM AMONG MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, + MR HSU ADDED.
EXTRA RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THE PROVISION OF STAFF FOR THE COUNCIL SECRETARIAT, OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, ALLOWANCES FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES REQUIRED DURING THE TERM OF THE COUNCIL ARE ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $9 MILLION.
THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL BILL 1984 WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 19) FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING.
QUARTERLY LABOUR FORCE FIGURES RELEASED *****
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION SHOWED A SLIGHT DETERIORATION IN THE QUARTER AUGUST - OCTOBER 1984 COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER WHILE THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION REMAINED STABLE, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR AUGUST - OCTOBER 1984 WAS 3.8 PER CENT. AS COMPARED WITH THE RATE OF 3.4 PER CENT FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER MAY - JULY 1984.
THE INCREASE OF 0.4 PERCENTAGE POINT IS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT - THAT IS, IT IS GREATER THAN MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO ARISE FROM SAMPLING ERROR - BUT ONLY MARGINALLY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE RATE FOR AUGUST
-
OCTOBER 1983 WAS 4.1 PER CENT.
THE NUMBER