XN000022-1982-09-21 — Page 3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1982

SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF DBS

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PEOPLE WHO CRITICISE DISTRICT BOARDS FOR NOT HAVING +EXECUTIVE POWERS+ MAY NOT REALLY KNOW THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND THE OBJECTIVE OF DISTRICT BOARDS, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

+IN A PLACE AS COMPACT AND SMALL AS HONG KONG, IT WOULD CLEARLY BE UNDESIRABLE FOR 18 DISTRICT BOARDS TO HAVE THEIR OWN FINANCIAL BUDGETS EACH PURSUING ITS OWN AND SEPARATE POLICIES,+ HE SAID.

+IT THEREFORE MAKES MUCH BETTER SENSE TO MANAGE CENTRALLY OUR MAIN PROGRAMMES, BE THEY FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL.+

SIR SZE-YUEN MADE THIS REMARK IN A TELEVISED APPEAL THROUGH RTHK'S +ACCESS+ PROGRAMME TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS NOT TO GIVE UP THEIR CIVIC RIGHT DURING THURSDAY'S URBAN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

HE REITERATED THAT DISTRICT BOARDS WERE ESTABLISHED TO FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION OF LOCAL ISSUES, SUCH AS THE ADEQUACY OR OTHERWISE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES AND HOSPITAL BEDS, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT PROBLEMS AND THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS.

DISTRICT BOARDS WERE ALSO A CONVENIENT FORUM FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GATHER VIEWS ON PROPOSED NEW MEASURES AND POLICIES,

IN SHORT, HE SAID, THE ADVICE OF DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD HELP THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE FORMULATION OF PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES WERE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEEDS AND WISHES OF THOSE PEOPLE RESIDING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.

+Į

+ THEREFORE BELIEVE THEIR WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT, HE SAID.

+FOR THE YEAR 1982-83, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE APPROVED AN ALLOCATION OF NEARLY $30 MILLION FOR THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS. UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARDS ORDINANCE, THE DISTRICT BOARDS MAY, WHERE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, UNDERTAKÉ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THE PROMOTION OF RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN A DISTRICT.

+WITH THESE FUNDS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, THE DISTRICT BOARDS ARE TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND TO ORGANISE WORTHWHILE CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY-INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, DISTRICT ARTS OR SPORTS FESTIVAL FOR PARTICIPATION BY ALL AGES AND WALKS OF LIFE,+ SFR SZE-YUEN ADDED.

SIR SZE-YUEN SAID THAT AS A REGISTERED ELECTOR HIMSELF AND A MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY, HE WOULD CERTAINLY VOTE ON POLLING DAY AS HE DID IN THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

/HE SAIN