XN000022-1982-10-28 — Page 18

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982

LEGCO SEATS SOUGHT FOR DB MEMBERS

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DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON ADVISORY BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON MARIA TAM SAID AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

SHE SAID: +GIVEN TIME A BOND WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND IN PARTICULAR BETWEEN THE VOTERS AND THE ELECTED MEMBERS TO WHOM THE VOTERS MAY GIVE, AND FROM WHOM THEY MAY WITHDRAW, THE MANDATE OF REPRESENTATION.

+FROM THE GRASS ROOTS, THESE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE ALSO THE SOURCE OF ACCURATE INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE MORE OPENINGS THERE ARE FOR THEM IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, THE BETTER WE SHALL FIND THE QUALITY OF THE CANDIDATES,+ MISS TAM SAID.

SHE EXPRESSED THE BELIEF THAT DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND EAST KOWLOON COULD DO MUCH TO HELP ASSIMILATE NEW IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THEIR DISTRICTS INTO THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY THROUGH VARIOUS RECREATIONAL, FESTIVE AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES.

THESE IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE OFFERED A SOCIAL LIFE AWAY FROM THE HUTS AND BUNK BEDS IN TRANSIT CENTRES SO THAT THEY CAN CAST OFF THE SENSE OF ISOLATION AND MOVE TOWARDS ACCEPTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY'S SENSE OF VALUES, SHE SAID.

DISCUSSING THE LOCAL ECONOMY, MISS TAM URGED THAT IN A TIME OF RECESSION HONG KONG MUST FIND A WAY TO NURTURE THE STRENGTH OF ITS INDUSTRY AND AVOID STEPPING INTO THE +VICIOUS CIRCLE+ OF EXCESSIVE WELFARE HANDOUTS AND WAGE DEMAND SEEN IN SOME COUNTRIES.

MISS TAM POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG RELIED VERY MUCH ON SMALLER MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH SHE SAID EMPLOYED

67 PER CENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL LABOUR FORCE AND PRODUCED 72 PER CENT OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS.

+I THINK THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MUST HELP TO DEVELOP FURTHER OUR SMALLER AND STILL LABOUR-INTENSIVE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, + SHE SAID.

THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING:

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INFORMATION ON LOCAL MARKET SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MARKET MOVES TOWARDS SATURATION POINT IN CERTAIN PRODUCTS;

/INFORMATION ON