XN000022-1980-07-18 — Page 10

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FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1980

ANYONE WHO BREACHED THE REQUIREMENTS WOULD FACE A FINE OF $10 900 AND SIX MONTHS IN JAIL.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMODITIES TRADING COMMISSION, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHINESE GOLD AND SILVER EXCHANGE SOCIETY.

COMMENTS SOUGHT ON GREEN PAPER

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THE PERIOD SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE GREEN PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION HAS REACHED THE HALF-WAY MARK AND A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY URGED ALL INTERESTED PARTIES TO MAKE THE IR VIEWS KNOWN BEFORE THE SCHEDULED EXPIRY OF THE CONSULTATION PERIOD ON AUGUST 31.

+A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS AND COMMENTATORS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSALS THROUGH THE MEDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT IS JUST AS KEEN TO HEAR THE OPINIONS OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

RESIDENTS OF BOTH THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE URBAN AREA ARE THEREFORE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR VIEWS IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

THE GREEN PAPER, ENTITLED +A PATTERN OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION+, PUTS FORWARD PROPOSALS PRINCIPALLY DIRECTED TO THE BETTER CO-ORDINATION AND RESPONSIVENESS OF ADMINISTRATION AT DISTRICT LEVEL, AND TO THE GREATER PARTICIPATION OF THE RESIDENTS OF EACH DISTRICT IN IT.

IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS BE ACHIEVED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ELEMENT ELECTED ON A CONSTITUENCY BASIS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. IN THE URBAN AREA THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SYSTEM SET UP IN KWUN TONG WOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE OTHER DISTRICTS. DISTRICT BOARDS INCLUDING UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND SEATS ON THEM WOULD BE RESERVED FOR URBAN COUNCILLORS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR WORK. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT EACH ELECTED URBAN COUNCILLOR WOULD BE ELECTED BY A SEPARATE GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCY. ELECTIONS WOULD BE ON THE BASIS OF SUFFRAGE FOR ALL THOSE OVER 21 WITH THREE YEARS RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER WERE NOT DEFINITIVE AND WERE PRESENTED AS A BASIS FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION.

/FOLLOWING Jas

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