XN000022-1983-07-22 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1983

DISTRICT BOARDS DOING GOOD JOB - SIR PHILIP ****

THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY CENTRE FACILITIES COMPLEMENTS THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE SAID THIS IN A SPEECH READ OUT ON HIS BEHALF BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MRS SELINA CHOW, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S ON TING/YAU 01 COMMUNITY CENTRE IN TUEN MUN.

SIR PHILIP WAS INDISPOSED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE PRESENT, AND MRS CHOW WAS OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY ON HIS BEHALF.

THE SUPPORT DEMONSTRATED BY THE COMMUNITY AT THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS LAST YEAR, SIR PHILIP SAID, HAD PUT THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM ON A FIRM FOOTING.

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THERE ARE NOW 18 DISTRICT BOARDS EIGHT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND 10 IN THE URBAN AREAS.

+THEY ARE DOING MUCH TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT THE WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE AND YOUR GOVERNMENT IS CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL PLAY AN INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG AND ENCOURAGING WIDER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SIR PHILIP SAID.

REFERRING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS, HE SAID THE PROVISION OF DECENT HOUSING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION FOR THE COMMUNITY WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S

MAIN PREOCCUPATION.

THE LESS TANGIBLE ASPECT OF BUILDING A NEW TOWN, LAY IN THE EFFORTS TO BRING TOGETHER LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE NEWLY THROWN TOGETHER AND WHO HAD FEW NATURAL TIES OR AFFILIATIONS OF THEIR OWN, HE SAID.

+A PHYSICAL BASE IS REQUIRED FOR THIS WORK AND IT IS YOUR GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO PROVIDE IN EACH NEW TOWN AND CENTRE OF POPULATION A COMMUNITY CENTRE WHICH CAN SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY LIFE,+ HE SAID.

SIR PHILIP SAID THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT COULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY PHYSICAL AND MANPOWR RESOURCES TO BUILD A STABLE AND CARING COMMUNITY, ULTIMATELY COMMUNITY BUILDING MUST DEPEND ON LOCAL INITIATIVES AND PARTICIPATION.

HE HOPED THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE WOULD ALL TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE PROGRAMMES AND SERVICES OFFERED AT THE ON TING/YAU OI COMMUNITY CENTRE.

/NOTING THAT

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