XN000022-1979-06-06 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1979

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CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN NT

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ADDITIONAL STAFF MAY BE PROVIDED TO CO-ORDINATE AND PRESENT CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ONCE THE

POLICY ON GOVERNMENT'S ROLE AND EXTENT OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROMOTION OF SUCH ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN CLARIFIED, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ALEX WU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES HAD ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF, INCLUDING 10 POSTS FOR THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL, FOR

THE ORGANISATION AND PRESENTATION OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+CONSIDERATION OF THESE REQUESTS HAS BEEN HELD UP PENDING CLARIFICATION OF THE POLICY ON GOVERNMENT'S ROLE AND EXTENT OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE ACTIVE PROMOTION OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID.

ON PROVISION OF FUNDS MR. AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT $850,000 HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATES TO ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES TO ORGANISE AND PROVIDE PUBLIC RECREATION ACTIVITES WHICH INCLUDED CULTURAL PROGRAMMES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+OUT OF THIS PROVISION, $225,000 HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR PRESENTATION OF CULTURAL PROGRAMMES FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE OPERATION OF THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL AFTER IT OPENS IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR.

+IN ADDITION, DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE ALSO BEEN PROVIDED WITH FUNDS FOR THE PROMOTION OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT, + HE ADDED.

MORE STAFF PROPOSED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS.

THE

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS HON, WILLIAM BELL, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ANDREW SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

/+THE BUILDINGS.