XN000022-1982-05-26 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1982

1.

GOVERNOR SEES DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN ACTION

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE TODAY HAD A FIRST HAND LOOK OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN ACTION.

IN HIS FIRST OUTING TO SEE FOR HIMSELF PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENTS ON THE GROUND, THE GOVERNOR ATTENDED A MEETING OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD AND TOURED THE HAWKER PERMITTED PLACE IN TUNG CHOI STREET.

SIR EDWARD ASSURED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT TOOK THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SERIOUSLY.

+THE STRONG TEAMS OF SENIOR DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS WHO SIT ON DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES ARE AN INDICATION TO YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TO WORK, AND WORK WELL, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT SOLUTIONS WOULD NOT ALWAYS BE EASY TO FIND AS THE BOARDS GET TO GRIPS WITH THE MORE INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS OF STREET AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT, SHORTAGE OF FACILITIES AND URBAN DECAY, AND MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE MAN IN THE STREET.

+BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE BOARDS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE AND IN COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT, CAN AND WILL MAKE AN EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LIVES AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF THEIR DISTRICTS,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.

THE GOVERNOR ARRIVED AT THE YAU MA TEI CITY DISTRICT OFFICE SHORTLY BEFORE 3 PM WITH LADY YOUDE AND THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES.

HE WAS MET BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR GRAHAM BARNES, AND THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY, MR ALBERT LAM.

AT THE DISTRICT BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM, THE MONG KOK CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR WILFRED WONG, INTRODUCED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO SIR EDWARD.

THE GOVERNOR THEN ADDRESSED THE BOARD BEFORE HE SAT DOWN AND LISTENED TO BOARD MEMBERS DISCUSSING THE SAI YEE STREET MARKET BUILDING PROJECT.

AFTER SOME DEBATE AND AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, THE BOARD DECIDED THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE LANDS DEPARTMENT WOULD CONSIDER A PROPOSAL THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD INCLUDE A CARPARK TO BE RUN BY A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.

MEANWHILE, LADY YOUDE MET STAFF MEMBERS AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTER AND CONSUMER COUNCIL DESK. SHE ALSO SPOKE TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WERE MAKING ENQUIRIES AT THE COUNTERS.

+

LOUDE