XN000022-1982-04-02 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1982

BIG TASK AHEAD FOR WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD

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WAN CHAI DISTRICT, WITH ITS COMPLEX DIVERSITY AND NUMEROUS DEVELOPMENTS, POSES A FORMIDABLE CHALLENGE TO THE AREA'S DISTRICT BOARD, THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (WAN CHAI), MR A.G. COOPER, SAID TODAY.

BUT HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE BOARD WOULD FACE UP TO THESE CHALLENGES AND SOON BRING MATERIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LIVES OF THE 250 000 RESIDENTS OF WAN CHAI.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, MR COOPER SAID BEING A MEMBER OF A DISTRICT BOARD WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

AND HE URGED LIONS CLUB MEMBERS TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES TO THE CHALLENGE AND CONSIDER STANDING FOR ELECTION IN THE COMING DISTRICT BOARD POLLS IN SEPTEMBER.

WHILE IT WOULD NOT ALWAYS BE EASY TO CONSIDER AND DECIDE ON THE VARIED PROBLEMS, PRIORITIES AND INTERESTS, HE SAID, IT WAS ONLY RIGHT THAT THE BOARD SHOULD BE CONSULTED ON AND HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE NUMEROUS DEVELOPMENTS NOW TAKING PLACE OR PLANNED IN WAN CHAI WOULD AFFECT THE DISTRICT.

MR COOPER CITED SEVERAL EXAMPLES WHICH THE DISTRICT BOARD WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER - RELIEVING CONFLICT IN PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC, REMOVING HAWKER AND RUBBISH BLACKSPOTS, IMPROVING THE LOT OF SQUATTERS IN THE DISTRICT, AND WHAT NEW DISTRICT-BASED ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO FURTHER PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF WAN CHAI RESIDENTS.

SINCE ITS FORMATION IN FEBRUARY THAT YEAR, THE

WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD HAD ALREADY GOT DOWN TO CONSIDERING VARIOUS PROJECTS, RANGING FROM HOW BEST TO UTILISE OPEN SPACE UNDER FLYOVERS TÓ SETTING UP A DISTRICT RECREATION COUNCIL, HE SAID.

THE BOARD WAS SHORTLY EXPECTED TO VOTE FUNDS FOR IMPROVING DRAINAGE IN THE SO KON PO SQUATTER AREA, AND WOULD SOON BE ACQUAINTED WITH SCHEMES TO PEDESTRIANISE CERTAIN STREETS IN WAN CHAI.

IT WAS ALSO ASSESSING A COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION SCHEME FOR BOWEN ROAD FOR JOGGERS AS WELL AS OLD PEOPLE, AND HOPED TO HAVE A SMALL PARK AND PAVILION AT THE JUNCTION OF BOWEN ROAD AND WAN CHAI GAP ROAD,

MR COOPER ALSO POINTED TO THE VAST DEVELOPMENTS BEING UNDERTAKEN OR PLANNED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN WHICH THE BOARD WOULD BE INTERESTED.

THESE INCLUDED ADDITIONAL FLYOVERS PLANNED AT GLOUCESTER ROAD, BLUE POOL ROAD, FLEMING ROAD AND FENWICK PIER STREET. CONSULTANTS WERE EXPECTED TO REPORT ON THE PROPOSED ELEVATED ROAD ALONG GLOUCESTER ROAD IN 1984 AND NO DOUBT THE BOARD WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER THEIR FINDINGS, HE SAID,

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