XN000022-1982-05-26 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1982

NOTE TO EDITORS:

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:

MR CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

+1 AM VERY GLAD TO ATTEND THE MEETING OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD THIS AFTERNOON. I WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU ALL, AND TO SEE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN ACTION.

+1 WILL NOT REPEAT TODAY THE REASON FOR INTRODUCING DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHICH WAS SET OUT IN THE GOVERNMENT'S WHITE PAPER IN JANUARY 1981. BUT I SHOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN MOST IMPRESSED BY THE ENTHUSIASM WITH WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE GREETED THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT.

+ IN TURN I WISH TO ASSURE YOU THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT TAKES 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. THEY GIVE SUPPORT TO DISTRICT BOARDS, AND WILL SEE TO IT THAT, WHEREVER PRACTICABLE, THE BOARDS ADVICE' IS ACTED UPON PROMPTLY, WITH IMAGINATION AND WITH DUE REGARD TO THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

+IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME THE SCHEME HAS MADE EXCELLENT PROGRESS. THIS IS SHOWN BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND STUDIES OF GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN INITIATED OR COMPLETED.

+SOLUTIONS WILL NOT ALWAYS BE EASY TO FIND AS YOU 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 THE IR DISTRICTS.

+I WISH THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD EVERY SUCCESS IN ITS WORK.

+THANK YOU.+

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