XN000022-1977-10-19 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1977

ROLE OF NT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS EXPLAINED

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THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS WHICH ARE TO BE SET UP IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH LOCAL RURAL COMMITTEE AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS- JONES, SAID TODAY.

HE GAVE THE ASSURANCE DURING A MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK. MR. CHAN YAT-SAN AND MR. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE 27 RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND N.T. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AT THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS.

THE MEETING WAS ARRANGED TO EXPLAIN TO THE RURAL LEADERS THE PURPOSE AND ROLES OF THE SEVEN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 5.

MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT SIR MURRAY HAD SAID THAT THE BOARDS WILL ADVISE ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE WELL-BEING OF THE INHABITANTS OF EACH DISTRICT.

+THIS REFERS TO THE INHABITANTS OF EACH OF THE SEVEN ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AS A WHOLE, HE SAID.

+MATTERS CONCERNING PARTICULAR RURAL COMMITTEE AREAS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DEALT WITH BY PARTICULAR RURAL COMMITTEES.

+FOR EXAMPLE, PROBLEMS WHICH WERE THE PARTICULAR CONCERN OF, SAY, THE KAM TIN RURAL COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE KAM TIN RURAL COMMITTEE THERE IS NO INTENTION TO INTERFERE

IN LOCAL RURAL COMMITTEE AFFAIRS.

+TRADITIONAL MATTERS INVOLVING THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OR VILLAGE AFFAIRS ARE NOT THE CONCERN OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS.+

THE GOVERNOR HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THE BOARDS WILL ADVISE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL AMENITIES, MR. AKERS-JONES TOLD THE MEETING. +THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ADVISE ON THE ADEQUACY AND PRIORITIES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME AS IT AFFECTS EACH DISTRICT, HE SAID.

+THEY WILL ALSO ADVISE ON THE USE IN EACH DISTRICT OF FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS VOTE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.+

/MR. AKERS-JOVES