XN000022-1979-10-10 — Page 23

21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979

THE PROJECTS WHICH HAVE HAD TO BE DEFERRED FOR THE TIME BEING INCLUDE:

* THE HONG KONG ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR-

* THE SHA TIN/TAI PO COASTAL ROAD=

* THE COMPLETION OF THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY*

* THE WIDENING OF PRINCESS MARGARET FLYOVER, AND

* THE SECOND STAGE OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR.

+THESE PROJECTS ARE ALL BADLY NEEDED AND DELAY IS FRUSTRATING, BUT IT IS PART OF THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID TO ENSURE CONTINUING ECONOMIC HEALTH, SIR MURRAY ADDED.

-

A MORE UNIFIED APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT'S WORK IN URBAN AREA ******

THE TIME HAS COME TO ATTEMPT A MORE UNIFIED APPROACH BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO THEIR WORK IN URBAN REGIONS AND A CLEARER PERCEPTION OF WHAT THE LOCAL NEEDS OF A PARTICULAR AREA ARE

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AND AS A FIRST STEP, HE SAID, IT WAS PROPOSED TO STRENGTHEN THE KWON TONG CITY DISTRICT OFFFICE IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS DISTRICT OFFICES IN NEW TOWNS WERE STRENGTHENED BY THE CREATION OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES.

+AS IN THE NEW TOWNS THE OBJECT WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT THE TOTAL GOVERNMENT EFFORT IN THAT AREA IS BETTER CO-ORDINATED AND DIRECTED TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO LIVE THERE, AND SECURE QUICKER ACTION IN RESOLVING LOCAL PROBLEMS, SIR MURRAY SAID.

+IT WILL ALSO BE OUR AIM TO ACHIEVE, AS IN THE NEW TOWNS, INVOLVEMENT OF A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF RESPONSIBLE LEADERS IN THE PROCESS OF ADVISING, WARNING AND STIMULATING THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT ADMINISTRATION IN THEIR OWN AREA.

+THIS WILL MEAN REVIEWING EXISTING CONSULTATIVE SYSTEMS IN THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT, HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS NOT INTENDED TO AND WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENCROACH ON THE WORK OF EXISTING STATUTORY AUTHORITIES WORKING IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE URBAN COUNCIL.

+ITS OBJECTIVES WILL BE SIMPLY TO ENSURE QUICKER REGIONAL CO-ORDINATION OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES, WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION, AND ARRANGEMENTS TO CONSULT KWUN TONG PEOPLE ABOUT THEM,+ HE

SAID.

/THE GOVERNOR