XN000022-1981-02-11 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981

Į

18

+THESE CONSIDERATIONS COULD DISCOURAGE MANY SUITABLE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, SPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION FROM COMING FORWARD AND THE FINAL CHOICE FROM THE LIST OF CANDIDATES MIGHT BE LIMITED.

+ IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM,

I WOULD SUGGEST

THAT A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ELECTED MEMBERS CF DISTRICT BOARDS SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SUFFER FINANCIALLY BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.+

MR HU THOUGHT THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT MIGHT ENCOURAGE MORE

GOOD CANDIDATES TO COME FORWARD TO SEEK ELECTION.

ON THE REQUIREMENT OF FORMAL EDUCATION QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS, HE AGREED WITH THE WHITE PAPER THAT IT MIGHT RULE OUT OLDER PEOPLE WHO DO NOT POSSESS THEM.

HOWEVER, HE FELT THAT THIS REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRATION AS VOTERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AGAIN IN 1983 WHEN MOST PEOPLE RESIDING AND EDUCATED IN HONG KONG WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MINIMUM NINE YEAR COMPULSORY EDUCATION UPON REACHING THE AGE OF 21.

THE HON ANDREW SO URGED THAT PRUDENCE AND VIGILENCE MUST

BE BE EXERCISED IN SELECTING LEADERS FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS IT BY ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT.

THIS IS BECAUSE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AFFECTS THE WELL-BEING OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR THEM, HE SAID.

+PRUDENCE IN THIS RESPECT WILL ENSURE THE PROPER CONDUCT OF AFFAIRS AND AVOID ABUSES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

+RES IDENTS OF ALL DISTRICTS MUST PLAY AN INTELLIGENT AND COURAGEOUS ROLE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THE SCHEME A SUCCESS, +

WR SO SAID TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER WOULD INEVITABLY INVOLVE A TREMENDOUS OUTLAY OF BOTH MANPOWER AND MONEY.

ALTHOUGH MANPOWER HAS INDIRECTLY BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE WHITE PAPER, HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DISCLOSED HOW MUCH MONEY IS REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT THE SCHEME.

+ IF THE GOVERNMENT COULD PROJECT AND MAKE KNOWN ITS BUDGET FOR THE SCHEME, THE PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND THIS TREMENDOUS VENTURE BETTER AND HAVE A STAKE IN IT IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE,+ HE SAID.

/19