XN000022-1974-04-23 — Page 9

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TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1974.

LET'S NOT BE STRANGERS URGES MR. BRAY

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HONG KONG CANNOT AFFORD TO BE A CITY OF STRANGERS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MI. DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY.

+WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON EACH OTHER, AND THAT GUES FOR THE GOVERNMENT AS MUCH AS FOR THE CRDINARY CITIZEN,+ HE TOLD A MEETING OF THE KIWANIS CLUB.

SUMETINES, HE SAID, HE SUSPECTED THAT HONG KUNG'S SOCIETY HAD BECJME SU CUMPETITIVE, AND SO IMPERSONAL THAT THE INSTINCT OF THE JRDIARY CITIZEN IS TO WITHDRAW COMPLETELY INTU HIMSELF AND TU DISPENSE WITH TIES OF ANY KIND EXCEPT WITH HIS CLUSEST RELATIVES. +WE MUST FIGHT THAT INSTINCT, + HE STRESSED.

HE ADDED: +1 HOPE WE HAVE MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR IN RECENT YEARS THAT WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE, THAT WE DESPERATELY HEED TO COMMUNICATE. AND I DRAW CONFORT FROM THAT UNMISTAKABLE EVIDENCE THAT THE PUBLIC RECIPROCATE THIS DESIRE.+

MR. BAY FELT THAT UNE OF THE MOST PRUMISING AVENUES FOR DEVELOPING CONTACTS BETWEEN THE GUVERNMENT AND THE PEUPLE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY IS THROUGH THE CUMMUNITY CENTRES.

SEVERAL SUCH CENTRES ALREADY EXIST AND HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING FOR YEARS, FULFILLING A RULE EQUIVALENT TO THE 'VILLAGE HALL' IN THE SMALLER AND MORE CLOSELY-KNIT RURAL COMMUNITY, HE NUTED.

TURMING TO COMMUNITY LIFE IN URBAN AREAS, MR. BRAY SAID: IT IS IN THE OLDER AREAS THAT THE REGIONALISATION OF THE DIRECT CONTACTS BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COMMUNITY IS BEING - STRENGTHENED BY THE APPOINTMENT OF CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS, COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICERS, URBAN SERVICES OFFICERS, PULICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS.

AS TO THE FUTURE, HE SAID THAT IT MIGHT WELL BE THAT OTHER ASPECTS OF ADMINISTRATION REQUIRING DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE PEUPLE MIGHT ALSU BE DEALT WITH IN THIS WAY.

+THERE IS NO DUCTRINE OR POLICY ABOUT THIS BUT WHAT HAS MADE SENSE IN SEVERAL FIELDS ALREADY MAY WELL EMERGE AS SENSE IN OTHERS, FOR INSTANCE PERHAPS IN RECREATION AND SPORT+, HE ADDED.

NOTE TU EDITORS:

COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF MR. BRAY'S SPEECH ARE BUXED FOR CULLECTIJN.

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