XN000022-1983-12-11 — Page 7

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1983

6

STUDY TOUR FOR SOUTHERN DB MEMBERS

****

SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL NEXT WEEK BE ABLE TO SEE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF JAPAN'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND COMPARE THEM WITH THE ELECTIONS OF THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARDS.

LED BY THE CHAIRMAN, MR K.C. KWONG, FIVE OFFICIAL AND NINE UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBERS LEFT FOR JAPAN THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON FOR A ONE-WEEK STUDY TOUR.

THE VISITING PERIOD FALLS JUST BEFORE JAPAN'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WHICH WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 18.

THE PARTY WILL SPEND THE FIRST THREE DAYS IN OSAKA WHERE THEY WILL VISIT AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION MONITORING CENTRE AND BE BRIEFED ON VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTION MEASURES.

THEY WILL ALSO VISIT THE FERNI NEW TOWN, ADJACENT TO OSAKA, TO SEE HOW A BALANCED TOWNSHIP IS PLANNED, DEVELOPED AND MANAGED, AND HOW PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENTS ARE DEALT WITH.

AT HYOGO PREFECTURE, MEMBERS WILL VISIT THE PREFECTORAL OFFICE AND THE HYOGO ASSEMBLY AND BE BRIEFED ON THE MACHINERY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THEIR ELECTORAL SYSTEM, COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS, COLLECTION OF PUBLIC OPINION AND DISSEMINATION OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, RUNNING OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT MEASURES.

THEY WILL ALSO TOUR KOBE AND HIMIE TO SEE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TWO CITIES.

+THE TOUR WILL PROVIDE BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BROADEN THEIR OUTLOOK AND ENRICH THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON HOW THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN OTHER COUNTRIES WORK, MR K.C. KWONG SAID.

+IT WILL ALSO ENABLE MEMBERS TO OBSERVE, LEARN AND COMPARE HOW PROBLEMS OF A COMMUNITY ARE TACKLED, HE ADDED.

THE PARTY WILL RETURN ON DECEMBER 17.