XN000022-1983-12-06 — Page 6

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1983

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+BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND THE FIGURES AND IF WE GO DEEPER WE MUST SURELY REALISE THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO BE DONE AFTER THE HOUSING AND SCHOOLS AND CLINICS AND ROADS AND DRAINS AND WATER AND TELEPHONES AND SO ON HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AND THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REAL PEOPLE HAVE MOVED IN.

+THEREFORE, APART FROM THE VISIBLE PHYSICAL EFFORTS IN BUILDING HOUSES, ESTATES AND ALL THAT GOES WITH THEM, GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN BÚSILY, ALBEIT A BIT QUIETLY, ENGAGED IN ANOTHER ASPECT OF BUILDING THE BUILDING OF COMMUNITIES, HE SAID.

MR MACPHERSON SPOKE ABOUT THE VARIOUS AREAS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WAS ENGAGED. THESE ARE :

* THE SETTING UP OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS

CORPORATIONS IN PRIVATE HOUSING, SO THAT THE RESIDENTS CAN HELP THEMSELVES TO SOLVE THEIR OWN LOCAL PROBLEMS;

* THE ORGANISING OF FUN AND GAMES, INTEREST GROUPS AND

CLASSES, TO HELP RESIDENTS BUILD UP NEIGHBOURLINESS AND DEVELOP COMMUNITY IDENTITY;

* THE SETTING UP OF DISTRICT SUB-OFFICES IN DENSELY POPULATED

AREAS TO HELP RESIDENTS TO ADAPT TO THE NEW TOWNS MORE EASILY, AND TO GAUGE THEIR REACTION TO VARIOUS LOCAL ISSUES SO THAT ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE AND

* THE SETTING UP OF CONSULTATIVE BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

THE MOST NOTABLE ONES BEING THE DISTRICT BOARDS - TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AND UNDERSTANDING ON GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PUBLIC ISSUES, AND TO ENCOURAGE MORE ACTIVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DISTRICTS.

MR MACPHERSON SAID IT WAS SO EASY FOR RESIDENTS TO +LOCK+ THEMSELVES IN, UNLESS GOVERNMENT TOOK AN ACTIVE ROLE TO HELP THEM TO DEVELOP NEW COMMUNITIES RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

+THIS ROLE IS GREATLY SUPPLEMENTED BY THE WORK OF THE MANY VOLUNTARY GROUPS AND AGENCIES WHO PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART IN SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS, HE SAID.

+DESPITE ALL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS, THERE ARE ALWAYS THE GAPS AND SHORTCOMINGS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS BITE.

+THE VOLUNTARY GROUPS HAVE DONE MUCH TO MAKE GOOD SUCH DEFICIENCIES,+ HE SAID.

MR MACPHERSON MENTIONED FOR EXAMPLE THE 12 TUNG WAH GROUP PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN NT DISTRICTS, AND THE MANY OTHERS ALREADY COMPLETED.

+THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE RANGE FROM DAY NURSERIES AND HOME FOR THE AGED TO PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS,+ HE ADDED.