XN000022-1982-03-25 — Page 28

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1982

TSUEN WAN

A PLACE TO BE PROUD OF

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IN THREE YEARS OR SO TSUEN WAN WILL BECOME A NEW TOWN THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY BE PROUD OF, ITS TOWN MANAGER, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL LUNCHEON GIVEN BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO LOCAL LEADERS AT THE HILLTOP COUNTRY CLUB.

MR MACLEOD SAID HE WAS THINKING MAINLY OF TWO DEVELOPMENTS WHICH WOULD TRANSFORM THE CENTRE OF TSUEN WAN, NAMELY THE HIGH-CLASS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE NEW MTR STATION AND THE CULTURAL AND SPORTING FACILITIES WHICH WOULD BE BUILT ON THE RECLAMATION IN FRONT OF THE EXISTING TOWN HALL,

+BUT ALSO HAVE IN MIND THE FACILITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING POOLS AND GAMES HALLS, AND ABOVE ALL OPEN SPACE, BEING PROVIDED OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF TSUEN WAN.

+WE ARE FORTUNATE IN HAVING TWO VERY LARGE AREAS SOON TO BE DEVELOPED AS PARKS: INDEED THEY-TSO KUNG TAM AND GIN DRINKER'S BAY -- WILL EACH BE LARGER THAN ANY OTHER EXISTING URBAN PARK IN HONG KONG gi

MR MACLEOD SAID CHANGES IN TSUEN WAN'S PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY CHANGES IN ITS INSTITUTIONAL OR POLITICAL LIFE.

+THE TWO CHANGES WHICH ARE PROBABLY OF MOST INTEREST TO US HERE IN TSUEN WAN ARE THE EXPANSION OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE CREATION OF THE NEW LANDS DEPARTMENT, BOTH EFFECTIVE FROM NEXT MONTH.+

TOUCHING ON THE RECENT DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, HE SAID: +WHAT MATTERS NOW IS TO ENSURE THAT THE ADDITION OF 10 ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD REALLY WILL HELP TO MAKE US EVEN MORE RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC OPINION, AND TO DEEPEN THE DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE OF TSUEN WAN WHICH ALREADY EXISTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS, MOST NOTABLY OF COURSE THE 13 APPOINTED MEMBERS ALREADY ON THE BOARD, WHO REPRESENT A VERY WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS AND ASSOCIATIONS.+

TURNING TO THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MR MACLEOD THOUGHT THAT THE HIVING OFF FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE OF ITS MAIN LAND RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD PROBABLY BE A HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT +ALTHOUGH WE WILL OF COURSE RETAIN AN INTEREST AND ROLE IN LAND-RELATED MATTERS+.

+ IT IS ALREADY FORCING US TO RE-EVALUATE THE OVERALL ROLE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND WE SHALL CLEARLY FIND OURSELVES ABLE TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TYPE OF ACTIVITY, + HE SAID.

+TO SUM UP, THE CLICHE THAT HONG KONG IS DYNAMIC AND FAST CHANGING PLACE APPLIES WITH PARTICULAR FORCE TO TSUEN WAN AT THIS TIME.

THE PHYSICAL