THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1993
15
POLITICAL APATHY A THING OF THE PAST
RECENT HEATED DEBATES ON POLITICAL REFORMS IN HONG KONG CLEARLY INDICATE THAT THE TERM "POLITICAL APATHY " IS A THING OF THE PAST, THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PARRISH NG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO PRESENT RED PACKETS TO 900 ELDERLY, MR NG POINTED OUT THAT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, PEOPLE HAD EXPRESSED DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS.
"THE POLITICAL REFORMS, IN PARTICULAR, HAD BECOME A DISCUSSION," HE ADDED.
FOCUS FOR
THIS SHOWS THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE TERRITORY'S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ARE SEEKING MORE PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATISATION PROCESS.
HE DESCRIBED AS VERY ENCOURAGING
TOWARDS POLITICS.
THIS MORE MATURED ATTITUDE
ON THE BOUNDARIES OF DISTRICT BOARDS, MR NG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD PROPOSED A SERIES OF CHANGES, WHICH INCLUDED MERGING MA ON SHAN WITH SAI KUNG DISTRICT.
BUT AS RESIDENTS AND THE SHA TIN AND SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARDS HAD STRONG RESERVATIONS ON THIS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED ΤΟ KEEP THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES INTACT.
THIS, HE SAID, PROVES THAT WHEN FORMULATING POLICIES, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESPECT THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PUBLIC, MR NG SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO PROPOSED EXPANDING THE RESPONSIBILITIES, FUNCTIONS, AND BUDGETARY DECISIONS OF DISTRICT BOARDS, SO THAT THEY COULD EXERT MORE INFLUENCE IN FORMULATING DISTRICT POLICIES.
FOR THIS REASON, MR NG SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE RETURNED BY DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1994.
ALL THE
"THIS WOULD ENABLE THE BOARDS ΤΟ ENJOY A HIGHER DEGREE OF REPRESENTATION, AND TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PART IN LOCAL POLITICS, HE SAID,
"
AS TO THE GOVERNOR'S POLITICAL BLUEPRINT, MR NG SAID THE PACKAGE WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT MONTH.
HE THEREFORE APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE ISSUE.
"THE GOVERNMENT WILL FULLY CONSIDER AND RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS, BECAUSE THE POLITICAL BLUEPRINT WAS FORMULATED IN RESPONSE TO YOUR ASPIRATION TO ENSURE A GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE DEMOCRATISATION
PROCESS," MR NG SAID.
/REGARDING THE