XN000022-1983-04-10 — Page 4

DUNDAI,

19, 1703

3

THESE ARE BUT A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW EXPENDITURE IS BEING CROSS-EXAMINED.

THE TASK OF MONITORING GOVERNMENT SPENDING CANNOT BE TAKEN IN ISOLATION OR DIVORCED FROM THE OVERALL WORK OF UMELCO, MR LOBO EXPLAINED. IT IS ALL PART OF THE UNOFFICIALS' FUNCTION.

ICT

IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR UMELCO MEETINGS, DIFFERENT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ATTEND COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS, MEET WITH DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, VISIT HOSPITALS, RESETTLEMENT ÉSTATES, COMMUNITY CENTRES, PRISONS, REFUGEE CAMPS, RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC OR OTHERWISE KEEP THE EAR TO THE GROUND TO GET A FEEL OF THE GOINGS-ON IN HONG KONG.

ALL THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE A DIRECT BEARING ON THE UNOFFICIALS' ROLE AS OVERSEERS OF PUBLIC SPENDING THEY EQUIP THE MEMBERS WITH GRASSROOT KNOWLEDGE AND VITAL INFORMATION AGAINST WHICH GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE MAY BE JUDGED, MR LOBO EXPLAINED.

WHAT MAKE THESE UNOFFICIALS PUT IN SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME VOLUNTARILY?

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR, MR LOBO SAID, IS THAT THEY ENJOY WORK AND DERIVE MUCH PERSONAL SATISFACTION FROM WHATEVER CONTRIBUTION THEY COULD MAKE TO THE COMMUNITY. INDEED, THEY HAD BEEN ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BEFORE JOINING THE EXECUTIVE OR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+ IF I WERE NOT VERY BUSY, I WOULD GET RESTLESS, + MR LOBO SAID, GLANCING AT HIS SCHEDULE PINNED UP ON HIS OFFICE WALL. IT SHOWS A MULTITUDE OF SQUARES IN DIFFERENT COLOURS, WITH EACH COLOUR DENOTING THE NATURE OF AN ENGAGEMENT.

WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE LONELY PATCH OF YELLOW, MR LOBO SAID, THAT STANDS FOR A DATE WITH A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY.+

BUT THEN, HIS FAMILY IS MOST UNDERSTANDING AND OF LIKE SPIRIT.

COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS OPENS ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN

******

THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR GORDON MORTIMER TODAY (SUNDAY) URGED PARENTS TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN FROM DRUG ADDICTION BY MAINTAINING CLOSE CONTACT WITH THEM.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1983/84 NORTH DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN AT THE FANLING PLAYGROUND

IN FANLING.

REFERRING TO HONG KONG'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE, MR MORTIMER POINTED OUT THAT THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THROUGH ITS PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE, HAD MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING IN THE COMMUNITY N AWARENESS OF THE GRAVE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE BUT SAID E STILL HAVE FAR TO GO TO REACH THE GOAL OF DRUG ERADICATION.+

HOWEVER, HE