XN000022-1981-10-24 — Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1981

CHURCHES' ROLE IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

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THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THERE IS A PART FÖR THE LOCAL CHURCHES TO PLAY IN ALL ASPECTS OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND INVITED THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHEME BY BRINGING MATTERS TO THE BOARDS' ATTENTION AND GIVING THEM GUIDANCE.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND THE LOCAL CHURCH+ AT THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN COUNCIL IN PEKING ROAD, KOWLOON.

MR BARNES SAID ONE OF THE FEATURES OF MOST CHURCHES WAS THAT THEY DREW THEIR CONGREGATIONS MAINLY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN WHICH THEY WERE SITUATED AND FOR THIS REASON THE CHURCH WAS WELL AWARE OF AND USUALLY AFFECTED BY THE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE IN THE AREA.

+ IT IS ALSO BY DEFINITION CONCERNED FOR THE GOOD OF BOTH ITS MEMBERS AND OTHERS. IT MUST THEREFORE, BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE LOCALITY IS ADMINISTERED, AND BY INFERENCE WHO IS DOING THE ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT MANY CHURCHES AND PRIESTS WERE ALREADY INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN CREATING PRESSURE ON BEHALF OF UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE OR AGAINST APPARENT INJUSTICES.

MR BARNES ALSO SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD WANT GUIDANCE, AND IT HAD ALWAYS SEEMED TO HIM THAT THE CHURCHES WERE RATHER A NEGLECTED SOURCE OF ADVICE.

+DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BE UNWISE TO CONTINUE THIS NEGLECT. SO I AM SUGGESTING THAT THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE CHURCH IN BRINGING MATTERS TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION AND IN GIVING GUIDANCE TO THE BOARD, MR BARNES SAID.

MR BARNES ADDED THAT HE ALSO FELT THAT THE CHURCHES COULD PLAY A STRONG PART IN SELECTING LOCAL CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT BOARDS AND IN ASSISTING THEM TO CANVASS VOTES FOR ELECTIONS.

+ I BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD BE A PERFECTLY LIGITIMATE AND NATURAL EXTENSION OF THE CHURCH WELFARE AND COMMUNITY WORK HE SAID.

MR BARNES THEN LISTED SEVERAL WAYS IN WHICH GOVERNMENT WOULD HELP CANDIDATES TO PUBLICISE THEMSELVES IN CAMPAIGNING FOR ELECTION AND THESE WOULD BE

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