XN000022-1982-02-14 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1982

TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY BIDS FAREWELL TO HAYES

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TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY LEADERS GAVE A FAREWELL PARTY TO THEIR OUTGOING TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, TONIGHT (SUNDAY) AND PRESENTED HIM WITH A KEY OF TSUEN WAN AS A MARK OF THEIR RESPECT.

THE KEY SYMBOLISES AN HONOUR CONFERRED ON DR HAYES AS

'THE FIRST HONOURABLE CITIZEN OF TSUEN WAN'.

+THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE AWARDED SUCH A HIGH HONOUR TO A CIVIL SERVANT AND WE THINK DR HAYES WELL DESERVES IT, SAID MR CHAN PO-FONG, CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE WHICH ORGANISED TONIGHT'S FAREWELL.

THE PARTY WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1 000 COMMUNITY LEADERS AND GUESTS. AMONG THEM WERE THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES- THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON- AND THE NEW TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, MR HAMISH MACLEOD.

DURING HIS SEVEN YEARS IN TSUEN WAN, DR HAYES SAID HE HAD ALWAYS EMPHASISED TO LOCAL LEADERS THE UNITY OF POPULATION AND THAT UNITY WAS STRENGTH.

+ CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE AN ENLIGHTENED INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY WHICH WELCOMES AND HELPS NEWCOMERS TO SETTLE DOWN IN THE NEW TOWN, HE SAID.

+WHAT MATTERS IS NOT WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN IN TSUEN WAN, BUT HOW MUCH YOU ARE DOING FOR TSUEN WAN.

+ IN THIS REGARD, THE ORGANISATION OF THE TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY FOR MORE INTEGRATION AND A LOCAL IDENTITY IS PROCEEDING AT A FAST PACE,+ HE ADDED.

HE SAID THERE WERE TWO ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.

+FIRSTLY, THE DISTRICT BOARD MUST LEAD THE WAY. IT MUST STICK CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE AND MUST DERIVE ITS STRENGTH FROM THEM, THOUGH LIKE THE GOVERNMENT IT MUST LEARN TO SAY 'NO' AS WELL AS 'YES'.

+SECONDLY, IT IS VITAL THAT SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS IN TSUEN WAN REMAIN ALERT AND RESPONSIVE, AND ARE NOT AFRAID TO RECOMMEND CHANGE WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE NECESSARY.

+IN THIS WAY, THE TOWN WILL RETAIN ITS VITALITY AND NOURISH ITS STRENGTH, HE SAID.

DR HAYES ALSO CALLED FOR A SINGLE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY FOR ROUTINE SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.

+DEPARTMENTS HAVE BECOME TOO BIG AND THEIR DUTIES TOO FRAGMENTED TO PERMIT THE DEGREE OF DECISION AND FLEXIBILITY THAT IS REQUIRED NOWADAYS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, HE SAID.

/+ONE PLACE