XN000022-1977-10-05 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977

MORE MAC'S FORMED ****

ABOUT HALF OF THE 600 NEW MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES PLANNED FOR THIS FINANCIAL YEAR HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORMED, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+AND TO ORGANISE, ADVISE AND SUPPORT THEM, STAFF OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INCREASED BY 12 LIAISON OFFICERS AND SOME 60 COMMUNITY ORGANISERS, HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT THERE WERE NOW OVER 2,500 MAC'S ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN FURTHERING THE INTERESTS OF SOME TWO MILLION RESIDENTS, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

SIR MURRAY SAID THE MAC'S, DISTRICT AND AREA COMMITTEES AND KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS HAVE PLAYED VITAL ROLES IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND ORDER IN RECENT YEARS.

+BUT THEY HAVE DONE MUCH MORE THAN HELP TO TURN THE TABLES ON CRIME AND LITTER, + HE SAID.

+THEY ARE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WHICH ARE ACTIVIE OVER INCREASINGLY WIDE FIELDS THEY ARE MAJOR POINTS OF CONTACT AND REFERENCE FOR THE GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SOCIETY, BOTH FOR THE PRACTICAL RESULTS THEY ACHIEVE, AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THEY OFFER TO MANY PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN NEIGHBOURHOOD AFFAIRS IN A WAY NOT OPEN TO THEM PREVIOUSLY.

+THEY MUST THEREFORE BE BOTH HELPED AND USED, SIR MURRAY SAID.