XN000022-1977-10-27 — Page 21

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1977

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POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SETTING UP ADVISORY BOARDS FOR NT

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IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO SET UP ADVISORY BOARDS I ALL NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS BE VIEWED RATIONALLY RATHER THAN EMOTIONALLY OR FACTIONALLY, THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE BELIEVED THAT THE MAIN QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WERE WHETHER THE SCHEME WOULD SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE GENERAL INHABITANTS I. A PARTICULAR DISTRICT, HAVING DUE REGARD TO THE TRADITIONAL RIGHTS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INDIGENOUS INHABITANTS.

THE ADVISORY BOARDS AND THE RURAL COMMITTEES WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH AND COMPLEMENTARY TO EACH OTHER +WELL-DEFINED AND CAREFULLY WORDED TERMS OF REFERENCE SHOULD BE FORMULATED AND ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, + HE SAID.

SINCE EACH DISTRICT AND EACH TOWN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IS UNIQUE, THE PLAN FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SCHEME AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARDS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY AND INDIVIDUALLY WITH FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE RURAL COMMITTEES AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE CONCERNED, MR. YEUNG POINTED OUT.

HE SAID THE SOUNDNESS OF THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SCHEME COULD NOT BE HONESTLY CHALLENGED. INDIRECTLY. THIS SCHEME WILL HELP PROVIDE A SOURCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OR PROMOTION OF THE MUCH NEEDED LEADERSHIP AT THE LOCAL GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL,+ HE ADDED.

HE WAS PLEASED THAT THE UNDER-PROVISION OF AMENITIES IN THE URBANISED AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD BE RECTIFIED AND THE CLAIMS OF THE SMALLER TOWNS WOULD NOT EE NEGLECTED.

HOWEVER, HE SUGGESTED THAT SUCH SERVICES AND AMENITIES SHOULD EE EXTENDED TO VILLAGES AND OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE IS A FAIR CONCENTRATION OF POPULATION OUTSIDE THE TOWNS.

HE SAID THAT IT WAS HIGH TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER A FULL PROGRAMME OF RESUMING LAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOTORABLE ACCESS ROADS TO SERVE THE VILLAGES, HOUSING AND FARMING AREAS WHERE THERE WERE NO SUCH FACILITIES, THE LACK OF WHICH HAD MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES.

HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE UPROOTED IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT, +WHO ARE OTHERWISE SO EASILY FORGOTTEN BY THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS ONLY TOO EAGER TO SHARE THE FRUITS OF DEVELOPMENT.+

+EVERY POSSIBLE WAY SHOULD BE EXPLORED TO SEE HOW THE IF LOSSES AND SUFFERINGS MAY BE AVERTED AND, IN UNAVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, BE MINIMISED AND THEIR STANDARDS OF LIFE ADEQUATELY MAINTAINED AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE AND NOT AS A MATTER OF CONCESSION OR SYMPATHY. + HE SAID,

MR. YEUNG SAID THAT TO BE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL +I DEEM IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND MY SERVICES TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THE INTERESTS OF WHICH OBVIOUSLY ILL, TO MY MIES TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THOSE OF A PARTICULAR DISTRICT OR A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE.+

+ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS Y STRONG DESIRE THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS OF THE

INDIVIDUALS ARE MAINTAINED AND GOOD TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS RESPECTED AND DEFENDED, + HE ADDED.

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