XN000022-1981-07-31 — Page 8

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1981

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US CITIZENS MAY NOW VOTE IN HONG KONG

DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS

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AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO WISH TO VOTE FOR OR SERVE ON A HONG KONG DISTRICT BOARD MAY NOW DO SO WITHOUT JEOPARDISING THEIR UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE US CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG.

IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THE FORMER PROHIBITIONS AGAINST AMERICANS VOTING IN A FOREIGN ELECTION HAVE BEEN RESCINDED.

+HE OR SHE MAY ALSO SERVE IN FOREIGN GOVERNMENTAL POST, AS LONG AS THE POSITION DOES NOT REQUIRE THE INDIVIDUAL TO TAKE THE NATIONALITY OF THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND THE POSITION IS NOT AN IMPORTANT, OR POLICY-MAKING ONE,+ AMERICAN CONSUL VIRGINIA CARSON WROTE IN RESPONSE TO AN INQUIRY FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT,

THE INQUIRY HAD BEEN MADE WITH THE U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL AS A RESULT OF CONCERN EXPRESSED BY AN AMERICAN RESIDENT IN HONG KONG AS TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN VOTING IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY EMPHASISED THAT ANYONE WHO FULFILS THE RESIDENCE AND OTHER MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT A COPY OF THE WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG, SETTING OUT ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION, TOGETHER WITH A SUMMARY BOOKLET ENTITLED 'A GUIDE TO DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION' MAY BE OBTAINED FREE FROM ANY CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICE OR THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.

KOWLOON BAY DEVELOPMENT WORK

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BUILD A ROAD, FOOTPATHS AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN KOWLOON BAY.

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS CALLING FOR TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT. A PWD SPOKESMAN SAID THE WORK IS PART OF A ROAD AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KOWLOON BAY AREA.

WORK WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF 650 METRES OF ROAD WITH A 10.3 METRE WIDE CARRIAGEWAY AND 2.75 METRE FOOTPATHS ON BOTH SIDES. ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE WORK WILL INCLUDE THE LAYING OF 500 METRES OF SEWER.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SCHEME, INCLUDING TWO LAY-BYS FOR TAXIS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, WOULD MAINLY SERVE PHASES II AND III OF THE KAI TAK PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED LATE NEXT YEAR.

CONSTRUCTION IS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AND TAKE 10 MONTHS TO

COMPLETE.

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