XN000022-1978-03-21 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1978

GOVERNOR VISITS DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS IN

THE NEW TERRITORIES

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLE HOSE, TODAY (TUESDAY) BEGAN A ROUND OF VISITS TO THE NEWLY-CREATED DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SIR MURRAY, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, FIRST WENT TO TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AT THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE.

THERE HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BOARD IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, AND HOW IT INTENDS TO SPEND THE $1.5 MILLION

IN GOVERNMENT FUNDS AT ITS DISPOSAL.

SIR MURRAY WAS TOLD THAT THE BOARD'S VARIOUS SUB-COMMITTEES HAVE ALREADY MAPPED OUT CONCRETE PROPOSALS WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:

* RECREATION AND SPORTS - A JOINT PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES AND COMPETITIONS HAS BEEN DRAWN UP IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE WHICH WILL COST $500,000, WITH THE BOARD MEETING HALF THIS COST.

THE BOARD ALSO PLANS TO GRANT AN ADDITIONAL $200,000 TO LOCAL AGENCIES AND ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE PROMOTION OF RECREATION AND SPORTS ON AN INDIVIDUAL AGENCY BASIS IN MEETING THE INCREASED LEVEL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.

* CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMME OF EVENTS IN THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE APPROPRIATE SUB-COMMITTEE AND $250,000 HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO IMPLEMENT IT. THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE THE PROMOTION OF DRAMA, MUSIC, DANCE AND CULTURAL EXHIBITIONS TO BE STAGED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE TSUEN WAN CULTURAL AND RECREATION PROMOTION ASSOCIATION.

* ENCOURAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT THE BOARD PLANS TO GRANT FUNDS SO THAT THE ESTATE AND SUB-DISTRICT +DAYS+ SIMILAR TO THOSE HELD AT CHEUNG CHING AND KWAI SHING ESTATES LAST WEEK CAN BE CONTINUED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS INTENDED THAT EACH HOUSING ESTATE AND SUB-DISTRICT IN THE NEW TOWN WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL +COMMUNITY DAY+.

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* ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS - THE BOARD HAS GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY TO PLANS TO CLEAN UP MANY OF THE URBAN AREAS OF TSUEN WAN MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OTHER LOCAL BODIES WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO BEAUTIFY THE IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS OF THE IR AREAS BY PUTTING IN SUCH THINGS AS FLOWER BOXES. FUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THIS.

/THE BOARD