XN000022-1978-11-02 — Page 9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978

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WHILE HE AGREED THAT IT MAY BE RIGHT FROM THE ANGLE OF DESIGN AND CITY PLANNING THAT A LARGE BLOCK OF LAND IS OFFERED TO ONE DEVELOPER, THIS HAS THE UNDESIRABLE EFFECT OF CREATING AN UN INTENTIONAL ECONOMIC MONOPOLY WHICH IS SOCIALLY INEQUITABLE APART FROM GIVING RISE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ABUSE OF POWER AND CORRUPT PRACTICES, HE SAID.

MR. YEUNG THOUGHT THAT THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS, WHICH ARE AT PRESENT CHARTING THEIR OWN COURSE ACCORDING TO LOCAL SENTIMENT AND NEED, WILL HAVE TO BE CO-ORDINATED BY A CENTRAL ORGAN SO THAT THEY MAY WORK IN UNISON TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL WITH MINIMUM DUPLICATION OF ENERGY AND FINANCE.

IN ORDER TO BE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE, THEY WILL REQUIRE THE CO-OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PROVIDING THEM WITH:

* INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY ADVANCE INFORMATION ON ANY

NEW MAJOR PROPOSAL AFFECTING THE IR DISTRICTS,

*

FOLLOW-UP ACTION ON THEIR DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND

* FULL FINANCIAL BACK ING.

HE ALSO NOTED THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS OF THESE ADVISORY BOARDS AND THE FACT THAT VARIOUS CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ARE BEING HELD FREQUENTLY IN ALL THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS.

MR. YEUNG WELCOMED THE MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH HE SAID SHOWED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES JUST AS THE URBAN DWELLERS.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FURTHER CONSTRUCT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE A NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR MULTI-LANE ROAD AND DOUBLE-TRACK RAIL LINKING TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, FAN LING, TAI PO AND SHA TIN, TO COPE WITH THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE NEW TOWNS AND THE ENVISAGED DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARKET TOWNS.

HE ALSO SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS IN STIMULATING CULTURAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES, AND IN DEVELOPING THE COUNTRY PARKS.

HE POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF WELL EQUIPED HOSTELS AND CAMP SITES FOR LONGER STAY IN THE OPEN. FOR EXAMPLE, A FOUR-DAY EXCURSION FOR PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE ATTRACTED SEVERAL TENS OF THOUSAND OF APPLICANTS, MANY MORE THAN COULD BE COPED WITH.

+ IT IS LIKELY THAT THIS TREND OF DEMAND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW WITH INCREASING SPEED AND VOLUME. IN THIS AREA PRIVATE ENTERPRISES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES MAY WELL BE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPLEMENT GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO MEET THIS ACUTE NEED, HE SAID.

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