XN000022-1979-10-31 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1979

PLANS TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL ADMINISTRATION WELCOMED

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THE REV. THE HON, JOYCE BENNETT WELCOMED THE PLANS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION OF KWUN TONG, WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS FROM A REMOTE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY WHOSE TOP OFFICIALS SELDOM COME TO THE DISTRICT AND DO NOT KNOW THE LIVE SITUATION,

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), SHE GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE ROAD SYSTEM.

SHE FOUND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY UNAWARE OF THE NEW ROAD FROM CHOI HUNG ACROSS THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION TO THE KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL AREA, AND UNAWARE OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC OF VEHICLES AND PEOPLE UP AND DOWN A ROAD THE AUTHORITY FIRST PROPOSED TO CLOSE IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR, THE AUTHORITY WAS ALSO UNAWARE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING FOOTPATHS AND STEPS TO PASS FROM ONE PART OF THE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER.

*CLEARLY THIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCAL SITUATION BY THE ADMINISTRATORS AT THE TOP BREEDS FRUSTRATION AND ILL-WILL AMONG THE CITIZENS IN OUTLYING URBAN AREAS, SHE STRESSED.

SHE WAS HOPEFUL THAT GREATER UNDERSTANDING WOULD NOW REACH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES. IT SEEMED TO HER THAT THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, WHERE SHE OBTAINED READY HELP IN FINDING ABOUT THE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE SCHEME, WAS AWARE OF THE NEED TO TREAT QUR URBAN AREAS AS INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES AND SO DEVELOP IN EACH OF THEM A REAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

A CITY OF FIVE MILLION CANNOT BE RULED OR ADMINISTERED IN THE SAME WAY AS A TERRITORY WITH A POPULATION OF LESS THAN TWO MILLION SUCH AS WAS HONG KONG WHEN SHE FIRST ARRIVED IN 1949.

IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT THE EXPERIMENT IN KWUN TONG RECEIVES THE FULL SUPPORT NOT ONLY OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO OF ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE STATUTORY BODIES, SUCH AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, SHE SAID.

MISS BENNETT POINTED OUT SOME OF THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE DISTRICT, OUT OF A POPULATION OF ABOUT 670 000, ABOUT 500 000 RESIDENTS LIVE IN LARGE HOUSING ESTATES. THE PEOPLE HAVE TO CROWD CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH VERY LITTLE OPEN SPACE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO PARKS, ONLY PLAYGROUNDS AND REST GARDENS.

FURTHERMORE, ALTHOUGH NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE EACH QUALIFIED FOR A TOWN HALL, THE PEOPLE OF KWUN TONG ARE STILL WITHOUT SUCH AND HAVE TO RELY ON SCHOOL HALLS FOR FUNCTIONS BECAUSE THE HALL OF THE COMMUNITY CENTRE IS ONLY A MISERABLE ROOM. THE PEOPLE ARE, BESIDES, A LONG WAY FROM THE FUTURE CULTURAL COMPLEX IN TSIM SHA TSUI AND THE CITY HALL.

MISS BENNETT HOPED THAT IN ENSURING QUICKER REGIONAL COORDINATION OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES, WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION+, MEMBERS OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE GREATER CONSULTATION WITH KWUN TONG PEOPLE AND NOT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE BUSINESS INTEREST THERE.

/ HONG KONG