WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1987
36
WAYS TO ENHANCE ROLES OF GRASSROOTS BODIES SUGGESTED
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE CONSULTATIVE ROLE OF AREA COMMITTEES, THROUGH WHICH IT GATHERED PUBLIC VIEWS ON ISSUES OF WIDESPREAD CONCERN, THE HON MRS PAULINE NG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
LEADING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS CORPORATIONS AS CONVENER OF A LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON THE SUBJECT, MRS NG SUGGESTED THAT A FIRST STEP TO TAKE WOULD BE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE AREA COMMITTEES ΤΟ DISCUSS TERRITORY-WIDE ISSUES.
SHE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO TAKE A MORE POSITIVE INITIATIVE TO CONSULT AREA COMMITTEES ON MAJOR ISSUES SUCH AS PUBLIC WORK PROJECTS OR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES, WHICH MIGHT AFFECT THE POPULACE WITHIN THEIR RESPONSIBLE AREAS.
BETWEEN DISTRICT BOARDS
NOTING THAT A LINKAGE WAS MAINTAINED AND AREA COMMITTEES BY WAY OF CROSS-MEMBERSHIP, MRS NG SAID IT MIGHT NOW BE DESIRABLE TO FORMALISE THE RELATIONSHIP BY ALLOWING DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO BECOME EX-OFFICIO AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN CONSTITUENCIES SO THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOLLOW UP ACTIONS ON AREA PROBLEMS.
TO COMPLEMENT THIS CHANGE, MORE AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD BE ALLOWED TO JOIN DISTRICT BOARD SUB-COMMITTEES, SHE SAID ADDING THAT THERE WAS ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE FOR OUTSIDE EXPERTS
ΤΟ BE CO-OPTED AS MEMBERS OF THESE SUB-COMMITTEES.
MRS NG POINTED OUT THAT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED BY AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS BACH YEAR.
"TO COPE WITH THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE AREA COMMITTEES WITH ALL THE SUPPORTING SERVICES THEY REQUIRE TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, SHE SAID.
||
SHE THEREFORE URGED THE GOVERNMENT то SERIOUSLY CONSIDER PROVIDING AREA COMMITTEE WITH THEIR OWN OFFICE PREMISES, WHICH WOULD GREATLY ASSIST THEIR MEMBERS IN THEIR DAILY CONTACTS WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
TURNING TO MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, MRS NG SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONDUCT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE A REVIEW ON THE LEVEL OF SUBSIDY TO THESE COMMITTEES AS THE PRESENT SUBSIDY OF $600 PER QUARTER WAS LAST REVISED TWO YEARS AGO.
IN ADDITION, SHE SAID, SIMILAR TO AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL COMMITTEES ALSO HAD A GENUINE NEED FOR THEIR OWN OFFICE PREMISES.
AID
/AT THE