XN000022-1982-01-19 — Page 14

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1982

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THE BOARD ADVISES THE GOVERNMENT ON A WIDE RANGE OF DISTRICT MATTERS INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND THE ADEQUACY AND PRIORITY OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES FOR THE DISTRICT. IT FORWARDS ITS PROPOSALS OR OPINION TO THE HEAD OF THE CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THROUGH ITS RESPECTIVE OFFICIAL MEMBER.

THERE ARE OTHER MATTERS, SUCH AS THE PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH THE BOARD UNDERTAKES TO DO ITSELF.

IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD HAS COMMITTED 75 PER CENT (THREE MILLION DOLLARS) OF ITS FOUR MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET TO THE PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE OTHER 25 PER CENT (ONE MILLION DOLLARS) IS COMMITTED TO MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

ONE FORTHCOMING CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ATTRACTION

PRESENTED BY THE BOARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS IS THE 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL FROM JANUARY 22 TO FEBRUARY 13, 1982.

THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS MADE AN EFFORT TO HELP DISTRICT BOARDS UNDERTAKE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DUTIES.

THIS IS EVIDENCED BY A STEEP RISE OF NT DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FROM 3.7 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE 1978/79 FINANCIAL YEAR TO 12.2 MILLION DOLLARS THIS FINANCIAL YEAR. THE NT BOARDS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A FURTHER 60 PER CENT BUDGET INCREASE TO BOOST THEIR EFFORTS IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.

WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD IS THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

AS IN OTHER DISTRICTS IN HONG KONG, THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IS ALSO HEADED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, IN THIS CASE THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER. AT PRESENT. IT COMPRISES 17 MEMBERS. ALL OF WHICH ARE GOVERNMENT OFFICERS FROM DEPARTMENTS MOST CLOSELY CONCERNED WITH THE PROVISION OF SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT. SOME OF THE MEMBERS ARE ALSO OFFICIALS ON THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD.

THE COMMITTEE'S MAIN FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATION AND CO-ORDINATION.

IT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE WORK OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND ENSURING THAT THEY ARE AS RESPONSIVE AS IS PRACTICABLE TO DISTRICT NEEDS AND WISHES.

THE INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG WILL ENABLE BETTER CO-ORDINATION OF AND RESPONSIVENESS BY THE ADMINISTRATION AT DISTRICT LEVEL.

IN ADDITION, IT WILL A 30 CREATE MORE AND BETTER CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS OF DISTRICTS AND THE GOVERNMENT

ANY CITIZEN WHO WISHES TO MAKE KNOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT HIS VIEWS ON DISTRICT MATTERS IS WELCOME TO DO SO THROUGH ANY UNOFFICIAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER. HE MAY ALSO WRITE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF HIS DISTRICT BOARD AT THE CORRESPONDING CITY DISTRICT OFFICE OR DISTRICT OFFICE.