XN000022-1982-08-07 — Page 2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1982

SUCCESS ANTICIPATED FOR URBAN DB ELECTIONS

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WITH THE GOOD RESPONSE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NT ADMINISTRATION, MR IAN MACPHERSON, IS CONFIDENT THAT NEXT MONTH'S URBAN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL BE +EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL.

SPEAKING AT THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD OFFICE OPENING CEREMONY TODAY (SATURDAY), HE SAID ALREADY 47 CANDIDATES HAD REGISTERED YESTERDAY THE FIRST DAY OF THE NOMINATION PERIOD WHICH WOULD END ON AUGUST 31.

HE ANTICIPATED THAT, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, MORE CAPABLE AND ENTHUSIASTIC MEN AND WOMEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN STANDING AS CANDIDATES.

HE SAID THE NT DISTRICT BOARDS, WITH THE ADDITION OF ELECTED MEMBERS SINCE MARCH, HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING EFFECTIVELY AS STATUTORY CONSULTATIVE BODIES IN ENSURING THAT THE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE WERE BETTER TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT DURING THE PROCESS OF FORMULATING PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME HAD COME A LONG WAY SINCE IT WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED TWO YEARS AGO AND PUBLIC RESPONSE HAD BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC, THOUGH IT WAS PREMATURE TO ASSESS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THIS STAGE, HE ADDED.

+ IN ORDER TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS ARISING FROM THE GREATER FOCUS ON CO-ORDINATION AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE MADE CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS EITHER TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OR TO ADJUST THEIR DISTRICT STRUCTURE, HE SAID.

ON THE 500-SQUARE-METRE NEW OFFICE, MR MACPHERSON SAID THE IMPROVED ACCOMMODATION WAS NO DOUBT A MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD AND ALSO A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIVELY DISCUSSION OF LOCAL ISSUES.

THE OFFICE, WHICH HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE JUNE, ACCOMMODATES THE BOARD'S SECRETARIAT AND HAS A CONFERENCE ROOM, A SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION BOOTH, PRESS FACILITIES AND AN INTERVIEW ROOM FOR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.