XN000022-1978-01-01 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 1978

SPECIAL FUND FOR N.T. VILLAGE PROJECTS

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A SPECIAL FUND TO HELP FINANCE A VARIETY OF BASIC FACILITIES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE OF REMOTE VILLAGERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAS INCREASED BY 40 FOLDS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

THE FUND, KNOWN AS THE LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS VOTE, HAS RISEN TO $5 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR FROM $2.4 MILLION IN 1967-68 AND $120,000 TWO DECADES AGO.

IT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION THROUGH ITS VARIOUS DISTRICT OFFICES AND IS AIMED AT HELPING VILLAGERS TO HELP THEMSELVES.

IT HAS MADE POSSIBLE THE PROVISION OF MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS WHICH WOULD NORMALLY FALL OUTSIDE OTHER DEPARTMENT'S AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

ALTHOUGH PROJECTS ARE USUALLY PUT OUT TO TENDER BY LOCAL CONTRACTORS, THE FUND SOMETIMES WORKS AS A MUTUAL AID SCHEME UNDER WHICH THE GOVERNMENT GIVES CASH OR MATERIAL ASSISTANCE FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT WHILE THE VILLAGERS CONCERNED TAKE CARE OF LABOUR AND TRANSPORT.

PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OVER THE PAST YEARS OR ARE BEING CARRIED OUT INCLUDE REPAIRS TO ACCESS ROADS, FOOTPATHS, VAN TRACKS AND BRIDGES, CONSTRUCTION OF PLAYGROUNDS, WATER PUMPS, WELLS AND RESITE MARKET.

+THIS YEAR, WE MAKE USE OF THE FUND TO PROVIDE YET ANOTHER ITEM OF SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO REMOTE VILLAGERS VILLAGE STREET LIGHTING, SAID MR. ROBERT FOOTMAN, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE FUND IN THE N.T.A. HEADQUARTERS.

MR. FOOTMAN SAID WORK WAS DUE TO START ON THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF STREET LIGHTING INSTALLATION ON LANTAU ISLAND AND TENDERS WERE ABOUT TO BE INVITED FOR FURTHER INSTALLATIONS IN SHA TIN, YUEN LONG, TAI PO AND SAI KUNG.

THE INSTALLATION PROGRAMME AIMS AT PROVIDING ADEQUATE STREET LIGHTING IN VILLAGES WHERE THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS AT PRESENT, HE SAID.

DESCRIBING HOW THE FUND OPERATES, MR. FOOTMAN SAID THAT EACH YEAR, THE DISTRICT OFFICES INVITED RURAL COMMITTEES AND VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES TO SUBMIT LISTS OF PROJECTS THAT SHOULD BE FINANCED BY THE FUND.

+AFTER THE LISTS ARE STUDIED AND THE PRIORITIES SORTED OUT, THE DISTRICT OFFICES SEND OUT WORKS STAFF TO EXAMINE DETAILS OF THE PROJECTS ALONG WITH THE RURAL COMMITTEES OR VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES.

/+RECOMMENDATIONS