XN000022-1981-10-23 — Page 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1981

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DISTRICT BOARD PLAN GETS BIG NT SUPPORT

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THE GOVERNMENT'S IMPETUS TOWARDS DEVELOPING PARTICIPATION IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG HAD MET WITH A VERY ENCOURAGING INITIAL RESPONSE, THE SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION, MR ALAN SCOTT SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE NORTH KOWLOON ROTARY CLUB, MR SCOTT SAID OVER 200 000 NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS HAD SENT IN THEIR FORMS TO REGISTER AS ELECTORS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS, REPRESENTING ABOUT 30 PER CENT OF THE POTENTIAL ELECTORATE.

THIS RESPONSE CONFOUNDED THE PREDICTIONS OF THOSE WHO SAID HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN MANAGEMENT OF THEIR OWN AFFAIRS. IT ALSO COMPARED WELL WITH THE TURNOUT FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, AND WAS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FIGURE IN THE UK, MR SCOTT SAID.

AND ENQUIRIES INDICATED THAT A HIGH PROPORTION OF THOSE WHO HAD REGISTERED INTEND TO TURN OUT TO VOTE, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO SOME CRITICISMS THAT DISTRICT BOARDS WERE MERELY RUBBER STAMPS, OR AN EMPTY SHOW OF CONSULTATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE. MR SCOTT SAID ONLY TIME WOULD ANSWER THAT. BUT THE RECENT AIRING OF DIFFERING VIEWS IN PUBLIC BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD, BETWEEN UNOFFICIALS AND OFFICIALS, WAS A VERY HEALTHY SIGN.

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SENSIBLE,

+THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE SCHEME IS ALL ABOUT LEGITIMATE PRESSURE BEING PUT ON GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE SERVICES, TO GET THINGS RIGHT- AND IF WHAT PEOPLE WANT CAN'T BE DONE IMMEDIATELY, OR MAY HAVE TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY FOR GOOD REASONS, TO EXPLAIN IT SATISFACTORILY AT DISTRICT LEVEL, MR SCOTT SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS HAD BEEN DIRECTED SIMPLY TO EXPLAINING DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.

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+ IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO PERSUADE VOTERS ACTUALLY TO GO TO THE POLLING STATIONS.

+THIS IS A MATTER FOR EACH VOTER'S OWN JUDGEMENT, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CANDIDATES' PRESENTATION AND THEIR IDEAS,+ HE SAID.

HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE KNEW WHEN POLLING DAY WAS, AND THAT VOTERS KNEW EXACTLY HOW AND WHERE TO CAST THE IR VOTES.

IT WAS ALSO THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TO PROVIDE, WITHIN REASONABLE LIMITATIONS, FACILITIES FOR CANDIDATES TO PROMOTE THE IR CAMPAIGNS, MR SCOTT ADDED.

THE ELECTIONS FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD WOULD LIKELY TO BE HELD IN MARCH NEXT YEAR AND THOSE FOR THE URBAN AREAS

IN SEPTEMBER.

THE MAIN REASON FOR HOLDING NEW TERRITORIES AND URBAN ELECTIONS SEPARATELY, MR SCOTT EXPLAINED, WAS THAT URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS WERE A NEW CREATION, WHILE NT BOARDS HAD ALREADY BEEN OPERATING FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS.

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