XN000022-1981-05-28 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1981

THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING WAS SO PRESSING THAT IT WOULD BE EASY IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES TO LOWER STANDARDS AND IGNORE THOSE THINGS WHICH DISTINGUISHED LIFE+ FROM A BETTER LIFE+, HE SAID.

+ I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE THIS BETTER LIFE, BUT THAT WE CAN ONLY DO SO IF WE HAVE A SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT CAREFULLY RESPONDING TO THE STRANDS AND STRESSES IN THE COMMUNITY,

+WE NOW HAVE MANY MEANS OF CONSULTING THE PEOPLE - DISTRICT BOARDS, RURAL COMMITTEES, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND ENORMOUS VARIETIES OF OTHER ORGANISATIONS - AND THERE IS A BLANKET OF DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES TO RESPOND TO VIEWS AND CRITICISMS OF THE PEOPLE.

*WE IN GOVERNMENT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THIS SYSTEM WORK.+

HE SAID AS AN EXAMPLE THE RECENTLY REVEALED SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN HAD EMERGED RATHER SUDDENLY, DESPITE A PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME BASED ON CAREFULLY ENUMERATED PLANS.

IT SO HAPPENED THAT THE FAMILIES WHO HAD CHOSEN TO GO TO TUEN MUN WERE PARTICULARLY YOUNG AND ADVENTUROUS AND PREPARED TO FORSAKE THE FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT OF KOWLOON FOR THE NEW TOWN, AND THEY HAD FAR MORE YOUNG CHILDREN THAN HAD BEEN EXPECTED AND PLANNED FOR.

+WE HAVE BEEN ALERTED TO THIS SOON ENOUGH TO RESPOND AND BY MAKING A RE-ADJUSTMENT, HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THIS EMERGENCY.

+BUT THE LESSON HAS BEEN LEARNED AND WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT FANLING, TAI PO AND ELSEWHERE TO SEE THAT A SIMILAR IMBALANCE IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER FACILITIES DOES NOT APPEAR IN THESE TOWNS,+ MR AKERS-JONES SAID.

SPEAKING OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN, MR AKERS-JONES SAID THIS YEAR GOVERNMENT WOULD BEGIN TO BUILD A

A STADIUM, A RIVERSIDE PROMENADE WITH BOAT AND CYCLE HIRING, FOOTBALL PITCH, 12 TENNIS COURTS, NINE BASKETBALL COURTS, THREE MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, AND FOUR CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS.

THE STORY WAS REPEATED ELSEWHERE IN EACH TOWN, HE SAID. ALTOGETHER, GOVERNMENT HAD BUDGETED $100 MILLION THIS YEAR FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, COMPARED WITH $20 MILLION LAST YEAR.

+AT THE SAME TIME WE REALISE THAT NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND MINI-SOCCER. WE MUST TRY TO CATER FOR ALL TASTES AND ALL AGES, HE SAID.

EVERY DISTRICT