XN000022-1983-08-23 — Page 8

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1983

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NEW ROLE OF LIAISON OFFICERS OUTLINED

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THE ROLE OF LIAISON OFFICERS HAS TAKEN ON A NEW CONVICTION SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHITE PAPER, WHICH ADVOCATES THE AIM TO OBTAIN LOCAL ADVICE AND PARTICIPATION ON ALL GOVERNMENT RELATED ISSUES.

AND TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE, THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE HAS UNDERGONE A THOROUGH REORGANISATION, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JOHN TSANG, SAID AT A DINNER GATHERING OF THE NEW TERRITORIES LIONS' CLUB THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.

+TWO-THIRDS OF THE LIAISON OFFICERS' TOTAL STRENGTH WERE REDEPLOYED TO INTENSIFY HOUSEHOLD AND INSTITUTIONAL LIAISON WHILE THE REMAINING ONE-THIRD CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN A COGENT AND CREATIVE PROGRAMME OF ARTS AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, HE SAID.

+THE IMPETUS OF THIS REDEPLOYMENT WAS TO ENABLE THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO GET CLOSE TO THE PULSE OF THE SILENT MAJORITY AND TO BECOME THE EYES AND EARS OF THE COMMUNITY.+

MR TSANG SAID THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ASSIGNING TWO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS LIAISON OFFICERS, TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOUR AREA CONSTITUENCIES IN SHA TIN,

ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FO TAN AND THE TOWN CENTRE AREAS AND THE OTHER FOR THE SIU LEX YUEN AND THE TIN SUM KUK AREAS.

THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE SERVICING OF THE RESPECTIVE AREA COMMITTEES WHICH ACT AS THE CO-ORDINATING BODY OF AREA ACTIVITIES AND CAMPAIGNS.

THEY ALSO SUPERVISE A TEAM OF JUNIOR OFFICERS, THE ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE ASSIGNED GEOGRAPHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES. THESE INCLUDE BUILDING UP CONTACTS AND MAINTAINING CLOSE LIAISON WITH ALL THE RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATIONS AND AREAS ORGANISATIONS.

+AS THE GEOGRAPHICAL EXPERTS, THE ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS WILL PROVIDE ́REGULAR REPORTS ON THE STATE OF BEING OF THEIR AREAS, MR TSANG SAID.

+AT THE SAME TIME, THEY WILL TRANSMIT GRASSROOT INPUT THROUGH THE EXISTING CONSTRUCT TO THE ATTENTION OF VARIOUS POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS THE AREA COMMITTEES, THE SEVEN DISTRICT BOARD COMMITTEES, THE DISTRICT BOARD ITSELF AND PERTINENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.+

MR TSANG EXPRESSED THE BELIEF THAT IN PROPERLY DIRECTING THE FOCUS OF ITS LIAISON STAFF, THE DISTRICT OFFICE WOULD BE A STEP CLOSER IN BECOMING THE EYES AND EARS+ OF THE COMMUNITY.

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