ON
HE CALLED ON THE COUNCIL TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES WITH REFEREN TO THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+FIRSTLY, THERE ARE MANY LANDS SUITABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. THIS WILL REQUIRE APPROPRIATE MEASURES FROM THIS COUNCIL TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH SO THAT THE INDUSTRIES WHICH HAVE BEEN THE MAIN ARTERY OF HONG KONG CAN FURTHER DEVELOP TO THEIR BEST.+
+SECONDLY, WE HAVE MANY FAST-GROWING NEW TOWNS WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THEIR ROOTS. APPROPRIATE URBAN AND CULTURAL FACILITIES WOULD HELP TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO CONSOLIDATE THE HARMONIOUS RELATION BETWEEN THE NEW AND THE OLD SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.+
+THIRDLY, WE HAVE IN THIS REGION MANY HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RELICS WHICH REQUIRE THIS COUNCIL TO PRESERVE AND TO TREASURE,+ SAID MR CHEUNG.
IN ORDER TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS, THE CHAIRMAN SAID THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD +CONSULT CONSTANTLY WITH THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS OF OUR REGION, SO THAT THE MEMBERS CAN REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE REGION AND TO REFLECT THE DIFFERING NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT. +
MR CHEUNG POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE WORK AND PROBLEMS OF THE NINE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL CARRY OUT THE COUNCIL'S POLICY DECISIONS.
ELABORATING ON THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM BARNES, DESCRIBED THE COUNCIL'S JOB AS ADVISING THE GOVERNOR ON PLANNING, INAUGURAL AND OPERATIONAL MATTERS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL COUNCIL IN 1986.+
THE COUNCIL WILL ALSO PLAY AN ADVISORY ROLE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION, HYGIENE, RECREATION AND CULTURE, AND FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR ANY SUCH MATTERS WITHIN THE NON-URBAN AREAS, HE SAID,
MR BARNES SAID THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR MOST OF THE BASIC POLICIES FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES BY THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. AN OPENING BUDGET FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL'S FIRST YEAR AND OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THAT COUNCIL WOULD HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED ON THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL'S ADVICE.
THE NEED