SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 1989
"IN RECENT YEARS, THE BOARDS HAVE ON MANY OCCASIONS BEEN THE TARGET FOR MANY TO SECURE SUPPORT IN CONTROVERSIAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN ORDER TO ADD WEIGHT TO THEIR VIEWS,
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HE ADDED.
MR LAN SAID THE REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN 1987 HAD SHOWN THAT THERE WAS NO DEMAND FOR FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE PRESENT ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS BUT THERE WAS, HOWEVER, CLEAR SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPING THEIR ADVISORY ROLE.
"THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO DO THIS BY REQUIRING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO CONSULT THE BOARDS ABOUT ALL DISTRICT MATTERS TO EXPAND THE ADVISORY ROLE OF THE BOARDS," HE SAID.
"THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO INCREASED GRADUALLY THE RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT BOARDS. THE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD HAVE RISEN FROM $1 MILLION IN 1981-82 TO $3.23 MILLION IN 1988-89," LAN SAID.
"IT IS EXPECTED THAT THERE WILL BE A FURTHER INCREASE OF PER CENT IN THE ALLOCATION IN 1989-90," HE ADDED.
MR
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IN STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS, MR LAN CONTINUED, THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT FORGOTTEN THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS CORPORATIONS TO THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.
HE SAID THOSE GRASSROOT ORGANISATIONS HAD BEEN MAKING VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS SINCE THE 70'S IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DISTRICT CAMPAIGNS, SUCH AS THE "CLEAN HONG KONG" AND "FIGHT CRIME" CAMPAIGNS.
"THE GOVERNMENT IS ON THE ONE HAND PROVIDING SECRETARIAL SUPPORT TO AREA COMMITTEES, AND ON THE OTHER HAND STEPPING UP LIAISON WITH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS' CORPORATIONS.
"WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ARE ABLE TO GET OFFICE ACCOMMODATION AT LOW RENT. ALL MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES ARE ALSO GRANTED ALLOWANCE ENOUGH TO COVER BASIC EXPENDITURE, MR LAN SAID.
HE NOTED THAT TODAY'S SEMINAR WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BODIES IN KWUN TONG, INDICATING THE CLOSE CO-OPERATION AMONG THEM.
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REGIONAL
SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING OF THE SEMINAR, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR PAUL LEUNG, SAID DISTRICT BODIES HAD MADE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS IMPROVING DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, REFLECTING PUBLIC VIEWS AND FACILITATING RESIDENTS › UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES.
"THEY ALSO HELP PROMOTE CULTURAL AND THE WELL-BEING OF LOCAL RESIDENTS,
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AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES HE SAID.
/LOOKING AHEAD,