XN000022-1982-05-06 — Page 6

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1982

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+ IT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF HELP AND ADVICE TO ALL THOSE IN NEED, AND IT CEMENTS TOGETHER THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR IN PROVIDING THIS HELP.

SINCE 1971, THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL, THE SECOND LION ROCK TUNNEL, THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY, THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, AND THE INITIAL SYSTEM OF THE MASS TRANS IT RAILWAY AND ITS EXTENSION TO TSUEN WAN HAD BEEN ACHIEVED, HE SAID.

THE CONTAINER TERMINAL, WHICH WAS NOTHING BUT WATER IN 1971, WAS NOW THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

AT SHA TIN, AS PART OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT, THE SEA WAS FILLED IN AND THE SECOND RACE-COURSE BUILT.

+AMONG THE HILLS AND ISLANDS OF SAI KUNG THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR WAS CONSTRUCTED AND, OF COURSE, WE STARTED BUILDING SIX NEW TOWNS ALL AT THE SAME TIME TO BREAK THE BACK OF THE HOUSING PROBLEM, HE SAID.

THE 1970'S ALSO SAW A +CONCERTED ATTACK ON THE PROBLEMS OF CRIME, POLLUTION, CLEANLINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE CITY HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED BY THESE ACTIVITIES.

+THE SEPARATE FAMILIES LIVING IN OUR DENSELY POPULATED MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN JOINED TOGETHER TO SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGING THIS CROWDED METROPOLIS BY THE FORMATION OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, AREA COMMITTEES, DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES, AND CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEES,+ SAID MR AKERS-JONES.

+AND, FINALLY, BUILDING ON THIS PLATFORM OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS, IN SOME SENSE, A CULMINATION OF THESE EFFORTS IN COMMUNITY BUILDING, HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

+ELECTIONS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE FOR DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND OVER 750 000 PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD TO REGISTER FOR THE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD LATER THIS YEAR IN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, AND TO EXPRESS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE PART

IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS GREAT CITY.+

AND DURING THE SEVENTIES THERE WAS A RENAISSANCE IN THE

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE PEOPLE.

+THE ARTS CENTRE, THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL, THE MUSEUMS OF ART AND HISTORY, THE SPACE MUSEUM, THE BIRTH OF OUR ORCHESTRAS, THE ACADEMY OF BALLET, OUR ANNUAL FESTIVALS, THE CONSERVATORY

OF MUSIC, THE COUNTRY PARKS: ALL THESE AND MANY MORE, PROVIDE

THE EVIDENCE OF GREAT CHANGE IN THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+

TRAINS, PLANES, AND FERRIES BEGAN TRAVELLING FROM HONG KONG TO MANY PARTS OF CHINA +ENDING OUR ISOLATION, STARTING A NEW ERA OF COOPERATION AND INVESTMENT, HE SAID.

+WE HAVE BUILT A GREAT CITY IN THE NINETEEN SEVENTIES WE CAN BE PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS. IT IS THIS SINGLE FACT, WHICH ENLIVENS THE MIND, WHICH GIVES US A CORPORATE LIFE AND STRENGTH, AND WHICH GIVES US THE CONFIDENCE TO GO ON BUILDING FOR OUR PEOPLE AND THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.

AND