XN000022-1982-03-18 — Page 3

THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1982

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WITH

+ THE WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG' ENVISAGES SETTING UP DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN THREE STAGES. THE INAUGURATION OF THIS DISTRICT BOARD TO-DAY, THE FIRST TWO STAGES OF THE SCHEME HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AND EVERY DISTRICT NOW HAS ITS DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

THE NEXT AND LAST STEP IS THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ELECTED ELEMENT IN SEPTEMBER.

+CENTRAL AND WESTERN HAS A REMARKABLE BLEND OF OLD AND NEW HONG KONG. ITS AREA INCLUDES THE SITE OF THE EARLIEST BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN THE TERRITORY: IT WAS THE FIRST DISTRICT TO BE URBANISED; IT WAS AND STILL IS THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AND THE BUSINESS CENTRE. BUT IT STILL RETAINS SOME OF THE COLOUR OF OLD HONG KONG WITH NARROW LANES AND STEPS AND OLD MERCHANT HOUSES AND GO-DOWNS, AS WELL AS MODERN SKY-SCRAPERS,

+IT IS A VIBRANT PART OF TOWN - A PART WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, BUT ONE HAS TO ADMIT THAT ITS SERVICES, INCLUDING ROADS AND MARKETS ARE OUT-OF-DATE, AND THE STRAINS ARE THERE FOR ANYONE TO SEE. CHANGE IS NECESSARY.

+TO ENSURE THAT THIS MEETS LOCAL WISHES PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT MUST HAVE THEIR SAY AND BE LISTENED TO. THIS IS WHAT THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME IS ALL ABOUT.

+ IT IS BASED ON DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS. I ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE WORK OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, AND THE LEVEL OF OFFICERS APPOINTED IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT RESPONSE TO CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS MAY BE QUICK AND EFFECTIVE.

+BUT WHAT THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CAN DO FOR ITS DISTRICT WILL TO SOME EXTENT DEPEND ON THE DISTRICT BOARD'S INPUT. IF IT IS AUTHORITATIVE, REALISTIC, LIVELY AND REPRESENTATIVE, THE TWO BODIES CAN TOGETHER ACTION MUCH.

+I AM SURE THEY WILL DO THIS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN, AND 1 WISH THIS NEW BOARD EVERY SUCCESS.+

PEOPLE URGED TO REGISTER AS URBAN VOTERS

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DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS FOR THE URBAN AREAS WILL COME A STAGE CLOSER TOMORROW WHEN REGISTRATION OF VOTERS OFFICIALLY BEGINS.

MR GRAHAM BARNES, REGIONAL SECRETARY (HK AND KOWLOON) TODAY CALLED ON ALL ELIGIBLE PERSONS TO COME FORWARD TO REGISTER AND PARTICIPATE IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR OWN NEIGHBOURHOODS.

+THE DISTRICT BOARDS PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE FORUM FOR GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES TO COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF ALL THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK AND SPEND THE IR LEISURE IN THE IR DISTRICTS.

/+WHETHER IT