XN000022-1977-12-16 — Page 8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1977

ISLANDS DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD HOLDS FIRST MEETING

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YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND THE POSSIBLE PROVISION OF SWIMMING POOL FACILITIES FOR YOUTH ON OUTLYING ISLANDS WERE AMONG THE ITEMS DISCUSSED IN THE FIRST MEETING OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING.

CHAIRED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. VICTOR YUNG, THE INAUGURAL MEETING SAW MEMBERS FREELY EXCHANGE VIEWS ON HOW BEST TO CATER FOR THEIR GROWING NEED FOR RECREATIONAL AND AMENITY FACILITIES ON LANTAU, CHEUNG CHAU, LAMMA AND PENG CHAU

ISLANDS.

BEFORE THE BOARD GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, THANKED THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE TIME THEY WOULD DEVOTE IN WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS · AN IMPORTANT TASK.

MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE DIFFERENT GEOPRAPHY OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT WOULD CALL FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS.

TODAY'S MEETING WAS THE FIFTH IN A SERIES OF INAUGURAL MEETINGS OF THE SEVEN NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS.

SITTING ON THE BOARD WERE 13 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE EIGHT RURAL COMMITTEES IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT AS WELL AS LOCAL TRADE AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.

IN THE MEETING, MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED WAYS TO PROMOTE WITHIN THE DISTRICT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THROUGH EACH COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICERS.

THE SCHEME INVITES YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECTS THAT AIM AT PROMOTING THEIR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING SOCIAL BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.

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