XN000022-1983-10-27 — Page 17

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1983

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COMMENTING ON THE FUNDING OF IMPROVEMENTS IN HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SYSTEM, SHE NOTED THAT THE FORMATION OF AN EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT FUND THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS WAS A POSSIBLE SOURCE.

+HOWEVER, TO ENSURE THAT THE EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT FUND HAS A GOOD START, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO OFFER BETTER INCENTIVES, SUCH AS A MORE GENEROUS TAX EXEMPTION SCHEME AND APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION FOR DONORS, SHE ADDED.

+EDUCATION IS OUR INVESTMENT IN FUTURE, AND A SOUND ALL- ROUND EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL AND SUBSTANTIAL INHERITANCE THAT IS WITHIN OUR CAPABILITY TO GIVE TO OUR NEXT GENERATION,+ MRS FAN CONCLUDED.

STRONGER LINKS URGED FOR BOARDS, COMMITTEES *****

THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD UNDERTAKE A REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT THE TIES BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE AREA COMMITTEES ARE STRENGTHENED TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.

THIS SUGGESTION WAS MADE BY THE HON MRS NG CHOW MAY-LIN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SHE SAID THAT THE ROLE PLAYED BY AREA COMMITTEES HAD BEEN STEADILY GAINING IMPORTANCE SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT AREA COMMITTEES WITH MEMBERS DRAWN FROM A WIDE SOCIAL SPECTRUM WERE SUITED TO REFLECT THE VIEWS AND WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE SUB-DISTRICTS.

MRS NG DESCRIBED AN AREA COMMITTEE AS A +DISTRICT BOARD IN MINIATURE+.

+ IN RECENT YEARS THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SYNCHRONISE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE AREA COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT BOARD, HAS VESTED THE FORMER WITH WIDER POWERS TO ADVISE ON WELFARE, PUBLIC AMENITIES, ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND RECREATIONAL MATTERS OF THE SUB-DISTRICT,

+THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AREA COMMITTEE IS ALL TOO APPARENT FROM ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE.

+THE AREA COMMITTEES SHOULD THEREFORE MAINTAIN CLOSE TIES WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT BOARDS, IN ORDER TO GET THE MAXIMUM EFFECTS OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME,+ MRS NG SAID.

/+IN THE