XN000022-1977-11-25 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1977

GOVERNOR APPOINTS 92 UNOFFICIALS TO N.T. ADVISORY BOARDS

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED 92 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE SEVEN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE APPOINTMENTS, PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, ARE EFFECTIVE FROM NOVEMBER 18 THIS YEAR TO MARCH 31, 1979.

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE HAD ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SET UP THE BOARDS IN THE SEVEN ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 5.

THE LIST OF APPOINTMENTS REFLECTS HIS STATEMENT THEN THAT RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN WOULD FORM THE NUCLEUS OF THE BOARDS.

THE OTHER MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DRAWN FROM A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE N.T. COMMUNITY. THEY INCLUDE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, SCHOLARS HEADMASTERS, MAC CHAIRMEN, VOLUNTARY WORKERS, REPRESENTATIVES OF CULTURAL, SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL GROUPS AND OTHER LOCAL PERSONALITIES PROMINENT IN THE N.T. COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

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TWO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. FRANCIS TIEN AND MR. CHARLES YEUNG, HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE BOARDS IN THE DISTRICTS WHERE THEY HAVE SPECIAL INTERESTS TSUEN WAN AND YUEN LONG.

TSUEN WAN WITH A POPULATION TOUCHING 500,000 HAS THE LARGEST BOARD WITH 20 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS MAINLY DRAWN FROM THE TSUEN WAN RECREATION AND AMENITIES (ADVISORY) COMMITTEE WHICH WAS THE FORERUNNER TO THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS.

YUEN LONG AND TAI PO, BOTH LARGE AND EXPANDING DISTRICTS, HAVE 15 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS EACH ON THEIR BOARDS, SAI KUNG AND THE ISLANDS HAVE 13 EACH, WHILE THE NEW TOWNS OF SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN HAVE EIGHT EACH.

THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL BE IN THE MAJORITY OVER OFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO WILL BE HEADED BY THE LOCAL TOWN MANAGER OR DISTRICT OFFICER AS BOARD CHAIRMAN.

THE SECERTARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY THE BOARDS WOULD ADD A NEW DIMENSION TO THE LINKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+ THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE BOARDS WILL ALSO ENABLE THE PEOPLE OF EACH DISTRICT TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND BETTERMENT OF THEIR OWN DISTRICTS.+

/THE TERMS