XN000022-1982-03-11 — Page 6

5

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1982

+THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE INITIATIVE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON SEVERAL GENERAL ISSUES, SUCH AS THE PROVISION OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR EACH ISLAND, THE EMPLOYMENT OF FULL-TIME STAFF FOR COMMUNITY CENTRES IN THE DISTRICT AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WELFARE OF THE TEACHERS IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT TO SOLVE THE RETENTION PROBLEM.+

HE NOTED THAT THE BOARD'S AREA SUB-COMMITTEES HAD PROVIDED VERY GOOD AVENUES FOR THE UNOFFICIALS TO BRING TO THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS' ATTENTION THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ISLAND COMMUNITIES AND FOR THE OFFICIALS TO EXPLAIN VARIOUS POLICIES AND MEASURES.

+THIS TWO-WAY TRAFFIC IS IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING. SOME OF THE MATTERS DEALT WITH BY THE AREA SUB-COMMITTEES MAY APPEAR TO BE TRIVIAL, SUCH AS THE RESITING OF REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS, THE REMOVAL OF ON-STREET OBSTRUCTIONS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVEMENT OF TOILET FACILITIES, BUT THE SATISFACTORY HANDLING OF THESE MINOR PROBLEMS DOES HELP IN IMPROVING THE LIVING STANDARD OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT,+ HE SAID.

MR FUNG SAID FLEXIBILITY WAS MAINTAINED IN THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND CULTURAL, RECREATION AND SPORTS PROJECTS.

MORE THAN $600 000 HAD BEEN SPENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS APPROVED IN THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAIN SHELTERS, IMPROVEMENT TO PLAYGROUNDS AND SITTING-OUT AREAS, REPAIRS TO COMMUNITY CENTRES, TREE PLANTING AND CONSTRUCTION OF PAVILIONS AND BENCHES.

IN ADDITION, THE BOARD HAD SCRUTINISED OVER 100 APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR CULTURAL, RECREATION AND SPORTS PROJECTS, AND ALLOCATED FUNDS TOTALLING MORE THAN $215 000 FOR 80 OF THEM.

A FURTHER $120 000 HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TO 107 JOINT DISTRICT BOARD/RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE PROJECTS WHICH WERE WELL BALANCED AS FAR AS TARGET PARTICIPANTS WERE CONCERNED, HE SAID.

MR FUNG POINTED OUT THAT TRANSPORT WAS THE MOST POPULAR SUBJECT AT DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA SUB-COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND A TRANSPORT SUB-COMMITTEE WAS THEREFORE FORMED TO DEAL WITH THIS SPECIFIC AREA OF WORK.

*THE RANGE OF TOPICS RAISED IS BROAD, ALTHOUGH THE EMPHASIS IS, NOT SURPRISINGLY, ON THE FERRY SERVICE FOR OUTLYING ISLANDS, + HE SAID.

A SPECIAL MEETING HELD TWO MONTHS AGO WAS ATTENDED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HONG KONG AND YAU MA TEI FERRY COMPANY, AND HE WAS RECEPTIVE TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED, HE SAID.