XN000022-1981-08-21 — Page 6

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1981

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YAU MA TEI DMC HOLDS FIRST MEETING

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THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (DMC), THE SEVENTH TO BE SET UP IN THE URBAN AREA, HELD ITS FIRST MEETING TODAY, AUGUST 21, 1981.

DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTED ON THE DMC INCLUDE THE POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING, LABOUR, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, SOCIAL WELFARE TRANSPORT, RECREATION AND SPORT, URBAN SERVICES, FIRE SERVICES AND HOME AFFAIRS.

+WE HOPE THAT BY BRINGING TOGETHER DEPARTMENTAL REPRE ENTATIVES AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL WHO CAN SPEAK AUTHORITATIVELY AND ACT UPON DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS AFFECTING THE DISTRICT DIRECTLY, DISTRICT PROBLEMS CAN BE TACKLED WITH FRESH IMPETUS, SAID THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DMC, MR WILFRED WONG, CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (YAU MA TEI/MONG кок).

+ALTHOUGH YAU MA TEI, IN TERMS OF POPULATION AND AREA, IS A RELATIVELY SMALL DISTRICT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE OTHER SIX DISTRICTS WHERE DMCS ARE ALREADY IN OPERATION, THE COMPLEXITY AND MULTIPLICITY OF PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THIS OLD AND FULLY BUILT-UP DISTRICT CALL FOR STILL BETTER CO-ORDINATION OF INTER-DEPARTMENTAL EFFORTS, HE SAID.

MR WONG DISCLOSED THAT IN YESTERDAY'S MEETING, MEMBERS AGREED THAT PRIORITY WOULD BE GIVEN IN TACKLING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, QUITE A FEW OF THEM HAVE A LONG HISTORY AND HAVE NOT LENT THEMSELVES TO SATISFACTORY SOLUTION SO FAR. THE DMC HAD ALSO IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF WORKING TARGETS TO BE DEALT WITH IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

+IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE DMC TO SET IN MOTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, MEMBERS OF THE DMC WILL INSPECT SOME OF THE TARGET AREAS IN YAU MA TEI SHORTLY, MR WONG SAID.

+OF COURSE WE WILL NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE NEED FOR MORE AND BETTER COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES. THE DMC WILL PROMOTE RECREATIONAL, SPORTS, ART AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT, APART FROM INITIATING ACTION TO IMPROVE THE LOCAL CONDITIONS,+ KE REMARKED.

+THE DMC WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD WHEN IT IS SET UP IN MARCH NEXT YEAR. VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE DMC. TO ENCOURAGE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO CONSULT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE DISTRICT.

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