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→THE NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL COUNCIL WITH POPULAR PARTICIPATION TO COVER THE NON-URBAN AREAS HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY EVIDENT IN RECENT YEARS WITH THE SHIFT OF POPULATION TO THE NEW TOWNS AND WILL BECOME MORE SO AS THIS TREND CONTINUES,+ HE SAID.
+BY 1991, THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE LIVING NORTH OF THE KOWLOON HILLS THAN IN KOWLOON ITSELF. THE INCREASE IN POPULATION AND THE MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS BEING PROVIDED TO ACCOMMODATE IT HAS BROUGHT WITH IT DEMANDS FROM RESIDENTS FOR A HIGH LEVEL OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND A BIGGER SAY IN THEIR PROVISION+, HE ADDED.
HE SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL, WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THESE DEMANDS AND TO SATISFY THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN DETERMINING HOW THEY ARE MET.
MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNISED FROM THE OUTSET THAT +THE NEW TERRITORIES IS IN NO SENSE A SINGLE CONURBATION AND THAT ANY COUNCIL FOR THE REGION MUST HAVE VERY STRONG LINKS WITH THE DISTRICTS IF IT IS TO CATER ADEQUATELY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN EACH DISTRICT.
THE COUNCIL'S MEMBERSHIP, IN FACT, COMPRISED ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE NINE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS. THREE EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, NINE APPOINTED MEMBERS AND ANOTHER THREE TO BE NOMINATED BY THE KUK.
TODAY'S INAUGURAL MEETING WAS DEVOTED MAINLY TO DISCUSSING A TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS AND THEIR AGENDAS FOR THE MONTHS OF MAY TO JULY. DURING THIS INDUCTION PERIOD, THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO MEET EVERY FORTNIGHT TO ENABLE ITS MEMBERS TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THE EXTENSIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL AND ITS EXECUTIVE ARM THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
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