XN000022-1982-01-05 — Page 3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1982

DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD, MRS IP SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RENDER VARIOUS SERVICES TO CANDIDATES, INCLUDING PROVIDING COPIES OF THAT PART OF THE FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS WHICH RELATES TO THE CONSTITUENCY FOR WHICH A CANDIDATE WAS SEEKING ELECTION AND COPIES OF THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION IN RELATION TO DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE COULD SEND ONE POSTAGE-FREE LETTER, NOT EXCEEDING 50 GRAMS, OF ELECTION COMMUNICATION TO EACH ÉLECTOR IN HIS OR HER CONSTITUENCY, SHE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO PREPARE PRINTED LEAFLETS TO INTRODUCE CANDIDATES TO ELECTORS.

+CANDIDATES MAY ORGANISE PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR ELECTION CAMPAIGNING PURPOSES, BUT THEY MUST COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN IN THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1980 AND MAKE APPLICATION TO THE POLICE, MRS IP SAID.

COPIES OF A GUIDE ON HOW TO MAKE SUCH APPLICATIONS WOULD BE

GIVEN TO CANDIDATES FOR THE IR INFORMATION.

+VENUES FOR HOLDING SUCH PUBLIC MEETINGS WILL INCLUDE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL HALLS, SOCIAL WELFARE BUILDINGS, PLAYGROUNDS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND CERTAIN FACILITIES OF THE URBAN SERVICES AND NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, SHE SAID.

MRS IP SAID SETTING UP DISTRICT BOARDS WAS AIMED AT CO- ORDINATING THE WORK OF ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS ARISING AS A RESULT OF RAPID DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT THIS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT PARTICIPATION TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE KEEN AND WILLING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.

+DISTRICT BOARDS ARE ALSO BEING SET UP AS BRIDGES BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC SO THAT THE WISHES OF THE PUBLIC CAN BE REFLECTED TO GOVERNMENT AS REFERENCES WHEN MAKING POLICY DECISIONS.

+THIS WILL ENSURE THAT ANY NEW MEASURES TAKEN WILL MEET ACTUAL NEEDS AT DISTRICT LEVEL.+

SHE HOPED EVERYBODY WOULD SUPPORT THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, ESPECIALLY THE COMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, IN A JOINT EFFORT TO BUILD UP A MORE SOUND AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETY.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 193 000 REGISTERED ELECTORS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, EQUIVALENT TO 30 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER AS ELECTORS.

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