XN000022-1980-04-16 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1980

980.

MORE NEW POST OFFICES IN PIPELINE

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TWENTY-SIX NEW POST OFFICES WILL BE OPENED IN HONG KONG OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO KEEP PACE WITH HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR A.C. HEATHCOTE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE OI MAN POST OFFICE,

MR HEATHCOTE SAID MORE THAN HALF OF THESE POST OFFICES WILL BE LOCATED IN HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATES, AND OTHERS IN AREAS WHERE THE EXISTING FACILITIES NO LONGER MEET REQUIREMENTS.

+ALMOST EVERYBODY USES THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE POST OFFICE AND I BELIEVE THAT ADEQUATE POSTAL FACILITIES SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE IN ALL IMPORTANT COMMUNITY CENTRES SUCH AS MAJOR HOUSING ESTATES, MR HEATHCOTE SAID.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS A PARTICULAR NEED TO EXPAND POSTAL RESOURCES IN CERTAIN URBAN AREAS, SUCH AS KWUN TONG AND SHAU KEI WAN WHERE THE POST OFFICE IS HARD PRESSED TO PROVIDE EFFICIENT SERVICES.

MR HEATHCOTE ASSURED THAT THE POST OFFICE WOULD DO ALL IT COULD TO ENSURE THAT ITS PLANS PROCEED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE So THAT SATISFACTORY POSTAL SERVICES CAN BE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

THE OPENING OF THE OI MAN POST OFFICE BROUGHT TO 76 THE NUMBER OF POST OFFICES IN OPERATION.

RURAL COMMITTEE: KEY ORGANISATION IN NT

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RURAL COMMITTEES ARE KEY ORGANISATIONS FOR ALL ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT WORK IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY THE CASE WHEN THE LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CUT OFF FROM MODERNISING INFLUENCES THROUGH THE RELATIVE ISOLATION CAUSED BY LIVING ON AN ISLAND.

TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER AND DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. JAMES HAYES, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT A CEREMONY INAUGURATING THE 17TH TERM OF TSING YI RURAL COMMITTEE.

+RURAL COMMITTEES CAN DO MUCH TO EASE THE PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR LOCAL PEOPLE, HE SAID.

+ IN SO DOING, THEY CAN ALSO ASSIST GOVERNMENT THROUGH HELPING TO ENSURE THAT WORKS PROGRAMMES ARE REALISTIC AND CAN PROCEED ON SCHEDULE. IN FACT, CLOSE LIAISON BETWEEN THE TWO ARE ESSENTIAL.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, THE RURAL COMMITTEES CAN TAKE AN INTEREST IN THE NEW COMMUNITY, ACQUAINTING NEW COMERS AND INCOMING AGENCIES WITH THE LOCAL SITUATION AND GETTING THEM TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD.