XN000022-1982-08-19 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1982

GOVERNMENT DETERMINED TO MAKE DISTRICT BOARDS WORK

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THERE WAS AN ABSOLUTE DETERMINATION AT ALL LEVELS IN GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE DISTRICT BOARD SYSTEM WORK, THE ACTING CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, KOWLOON CITY, MR ALISTAIR LANG, SAID TODAY.

+THERE IS A GREAT WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN, TO LEARN, TO PROFIT FROM MISTAKES, AND TO TUNE UP THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT SO THAT IT CAN RESPOND, HE SAID,

MR LANG WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURAL LUNCHEON MEETING OF

THE LIONS CLUB OF KAI TAK.

HE NOTED THAT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, THE CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VOTER, HIS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROVIDE AN ANALOGUE TO THE MARKET SYSTEM IN WHICH THE PUBLIC, AS THE CUSTOMER COULD COMMUNICATE ITS NEEDS TO THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE SUPPLIER OF GOODS.

+THE EFFICACY OF THE CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION DEPENDS ON ITS COMPONENT PARTS, HE SAID,

+AT ONE LEVEL, IT IS UP TO THE REGISTERED VOTER TO SELECT THE CANDIDATE HE WANTS, TO TURN OUT AND VOTE FOR HIM ON SEPTEMBER 23 AND THEN TO MONITOR THE ELECTED MEMBER, PROD HIM, LOBBY HIM AND GENERALLY ENSURE THAT HE REMAINS UP TO THE MARK.

+AT ANOTHER LEVEL, IT DEPENDS ON GOOD QUALITY CANDIDATES PRESENTING THEMSELVES FOR ELECTION.+

MR LANG SAID THAT A GOOD CANDIDATE SHOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP FOR THEIR NEEDS.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WELL RECOGNISED THAT THE WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WAS NOT NECESSARILY TO THROW MORE RESOURCES AND MORE MONEY, BUT RATHER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ADVICE AVAILABLE TO US AND OF THE RESOURCES WE USE.+

+THE GREATEST OF HONG KONG'S RESOURCES IS ITS PEOPLE.

+SEPTEMBER 23 GIVES US ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAP THAT RESOURCE FOR A PROFITABLE AND LASTING USE, HE ADDED.

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