XN000022-1983-09-28 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1983

MINISTER LEARNS FROM DB MEETING

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THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS MR RICHARD LUCE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR IAN MACPHERSON, MR LUCE SPENT ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING.

IN A BRIEF ADDRESS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE DEPARTING, THE MINISTER SAID HE HAD A LESSON OR TWO TO TAKE BACK AFTER LISTENING TO THE PROCEEDINGS.

FOR INSTANCE, HE SAID, THE DISCUSSION ON SOLVING THE POLLUTION PROBLEM OF THE SHING MUN RIVER, A MAJOR AMENITY SPOT IN THE NEW TOWN, HAD GIVEN HIM SOME IDEA OF TACKLING A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN HIS OWN CONSTITUENCY.

→THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MY VISIT TO HONG KONG IS TO SEE AS MUCH AS I CAN OF A COMMUNITY AND TO LEARN HOW A COMMUNITY WORKS AND SERVICES PROVIDED.

+I WANT TO LISTEN AS MUCH AS CAN TO THE OPINIONS OF THE PEOPLE AND FROM A WIDE SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

MR LUCE WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT BOARD MEETINGS WERE OPEN TO THE PRESS.

ALLOWING PRESS MEMBERS TO COVER BOARD MEETINGS COULD BUILD A CLOSE LINK BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

+THIS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE LINK BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT, COMMUNICATING THROUGH THE MEDIA.+

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, A MEMBER, MR NG CHAN-LAM, PRESENTED A COLOUR PICTURE +SHA TIN AT NIGHT+ TO MR RICHARD LÚCE.

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MEMBERS FELT THAT THIS WINNING ENTRY OF THE DISTRICT PHOTO CONTEST HELD LAST CHRISTMAS HAD CAPTURED WELL THE LIVELY SPIRIT OF SHA TIN,

GOVERNOR TO OPEN HOUSING SCHEME FOR ELDERLY *****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THE SHA TIN HOUSING SCHEME FOR THE ELDERLY AT A CEREMONY STARTING AT 3 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE NGAN SHING COMMERCIAL COMPLEX IN SHA TIN CITY ONE.

UNDER THE SCHEME THE GOVERNMENT PURCHASED 80 FLATS IN CITY ONE TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES AND TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.

/TRANSPORT HAS