WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986
29
DISTRICT BOARDS PROVE THEIR WORTH *****
DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE IR VALUE IN BUILDING LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH VITALITY AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND IDENTITY, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD ALSO PROVED THEIR WORTH IN HELPING TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, MR LIAO SAID DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BUDGET.
HE NOTED THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD BEEN CREATED TO ACHIEVE BETTER CO-ORDINATION AND MORE RESPONSIVE ADMINISTRATION AT DISTRICT LEVEL BY PROVIDING FOR GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS.
IN PURSUIT OF THEIR VITAL OBJECTIVES, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS HAD BEEN FORTHCOMING AND EFFECTIVE IN REFLECTING THE VIEWS AND ASPIRATIONS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THIS EFFORT MUST CONTINUE WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.
+ IT THEREFORE FOLLOWS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FOR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR WORK.-
REFERRING TO SUGGESTIONS THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO BOARD MEMBERS WHO WISH TO SET UP THEIR OWN OFFICES TO MEET LOCAL RESIDENTS, MR LIAO SAID: +WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF EXAMINING IN DETAIL THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR SUCH AN ALLOWANCE WITH A VIEW TO FORMULATING PROPOSALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.+
THE HON PAULINE NG HAD PROPOSED THAT THE AMBIT OF FUNDS ALLOCATED TO DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BE CHANGED TO INCLUDE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM SUCH PROJECTS AS THE INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHTING IN SQUATTER AREAS AND THE PROVISION OF STUDY ROOMS.
MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAD AGREED TO MEET RECURRENT EXPENDITURE FOR STREET LIGHTING INSTALLED BY DISTRICT BOARDS IN URBAN SQUATTER AREAS.
+AS REGARDS RECURRENT EXPENDITURE THAT MAY ARISE FROM OTHER MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD THAT SUCH RECURRENT COMMITMENTS WILL SUBSEQUENTLY TAKE UP A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE LIMITED FUNDS AVAILABLE AND THUS SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE BOARDS' CAPABILITY TO FINANCE OTHER WORTHY PROJECTS, HE SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING EXTRA STAFF TO IMPROVE SECRETARIAT SERVICES TO DISTRICT BOARDS, MR LIAO SAID ADDITIONAL POSTS HAD BEEN CREATED THIS FINANCIAL YEAR TO RELIEVE THE HEAVY WORKLOAD OF DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIATS.
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