XN000022-1982-07-08 — Page 17

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1982

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COMMUNITY BUILDING IMPORTANT TO NEW TOWNS

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THE CREATION OF COMMUNITIES, OR COMMUNITY BUILDING, IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT IN THE FORMATION OF NEW TOWNS APART FROM THEIR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR AN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

IN A LUNCHEON SPEECH TO THE Y'S MEN'S CLUB OF HONG KONG HE SAID LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WERE MOVING STEADILY INTO THE NEW TOWNS WHERE SUCH BASIC NECESSITIES AS HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TRANSPORT WERE BEING PROVIDED.

HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE NEW TOWNS WHICH HAD TO BE TACKLED.

+ IT IS ALSO THE CREATION OF COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THESE HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ARE CONTENT TO LIVE AND BRING UP THE IR CHILDREN, HE SAID.

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+THIS IS COMMUNITY BUILDING IN ITS BEST SENSE AND IT REQUIRES A MASSIVE AND DEDICATED EFFORT BY ALL CONCERNED, MATCHING THE EFFORT PUT INTO THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NEW CITIES.+

MR MACPHERSON CONTINUED THAT ONE OF THE TASKS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT THE NEEDS AND DEMANDS OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE NEW COMMUNITIES WERE, WHAT THEY FELT IN A STRANGE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW THEY COULD BE HELPED.

+TO THIS END THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO VISIT EVERY NEW FAMILY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER ARRIVAL, HE SAID.

+AT THE SAME TIME WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE CREATION OF SOME SORT OF COMMUNITY FEELING BY THE SETTING UP OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, YIN NGAI SOCIETIES FOR THE WIVES, AND SIMILAR CLUBS IN ORDER TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER SO THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL TOO ISOLATED. +

BUT HE CAUTIONED THAT THIS BUSINESS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING HAD TO BE APPROACHED WITH CARE.

+ IT IS NOT REALLY MUCH USE TO IMPOSE IT ARTIFICIALLY FOR IF IT IS DONE THIS WAY IT WILL FALL APART AS SOON AS THE OFFICIAL INPUT IS WITHDRAWN.

+ IT IS MUCH TO BE PREFERRED IF THE COMMUNITY FEELING GROWS NATURALLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION DOING NO MORE THAN PRIMING THE PUMP AND PROVIDING SOME SORT OF FRAMEWORK.

+OTHER THINGS WHICH HELP IN THE CREATION OF COMMUNITIES ARE CULTURAL, SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ORGANISED WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOCALLY BASED ORGANISATIONS AND GROUPS WITH THE BACKING OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS WHICH NOW ARE PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN TERMS BOTH OF TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORT, HE ADDED.

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