XN000022-1981-07-08 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1981

MORE PUBLICITY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME URGED

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THE INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WAS A MAJOR STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID.

AND HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE REFORMS AND THE ENSUING BENEFITS THAT THEY WOULD BRING TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

HE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SPARE NO EFFORT IN PUBLICISING BOTH THE CONCEPT AND THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THIS NEW SCHEME AND IN ENCOURAGING POSITIVE INVOLVEMENT IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION,

MR WONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE BILL WAS PASSED WITH THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS BILL 1981 AND THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1981,

HE SAID THE LEGISLATION SCRUTINY GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS, OF WHICH HE IS CHAIRMAN, HAD DISCUSSED THE BILL WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND HAD RECOMMENDED THE FOLLOWING THREE CHANGES:

* DELETION OF CLAUSE 27 WHICH DEALS WITH

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE BY REASON OF HIS MEMBERSHIP OF A DISTRICT BOARD-

* AMENDMENT OF CLAUSE 11, IN RESPECT OF

ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY ELECTED MEMBERS, TO INCLUDE APPOINTED MEMBERS AS WELL- AND

* AMENDMENT OF CLAUSE 6(1)(E) TO MAKE IT

CLEAR THAT THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS NOMINATED BY APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO COULD BE ELECTED IN THE DISTRICT FOR WHICH THE BOARD IS

ESTABLISHED AS MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.

ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT, MR WONG SAID THAT, UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT BOARDS, COUNCILS OR ADVISORY BODIES ARE NOT ACCORDED SUCH PRIVILEGE.

+FURTHERMORE, EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN VERY CO-OPERATIVE AND THERE IS NO KNOWN INSTANCE OF DISCRIMINATION.

+GOVERNMENT WILL, OF COURSE, KEEP THE SITUATION UNDER REVIEW, AND SHOULD THE NEED ARISE APPROPRIATE SAFEGUARDS WILL BE

LEGISLATED, HE SAID.

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