XN000022-1983-12-21 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1983

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BUT HE BELIEVED THAT IT AROSE FROM A MISCONCEPTION OF THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE TWO COMPONENTS OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.

+SOME MATTERS ARE RESOLVED QUICKLY AND RESULT IN EXECUTIVE ACTION BEING TAKEN BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WITHOUT REFERENCE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT, HE SAID.

+OTHER ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARDS MAY HAVE WIDER IMPLICATIONS AND REQUIRE REFERENCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

DEPARTMENTS.+

MR AKERS-JONES EMPHASISED THAT IF, AFTER THIS CONSIDERATION, THE DISTRICT ADVICE COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED BECAUSE OF THE WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST, THE BOARD WOULD BE INFORMED WITH SUPPORTING REASONS.

+HOWEVER, IF PARTICULAR MEMBERS OF A DISTRICT BOARD ARE DISSATISFIED IN ANY WAY WITH THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OR IN THE MANNER IN WHICH MATTERS ARE REFERRED TO THE BOARD BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THERE CAN BE NO BETTER PLACE TO RAISE IT THAN IN A MEETING OF THE BOARD.

+RATHER THAN HAVE A SPECIAL REVIEW OF THIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP, I WOULD TRY TO IMPROVE AND CORRECT AS IMPERFECTIONS AND OMISSIONS ARISE, HE ADDED.

ACTION TAKEN ON PRIVATE STREET PROBLEM

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A PILOT SCHEME WILL SOON BE LAUNCHED TO RESUME SEVEN PRIVATE STREETS IN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS WELL AWARE OF THE SERIOUS SANITARY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE STREETS.

+WE ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF RESUMING PRIVATE STREETS AND MAINTAINING THEM THEREAFTER AS PUBLIC ROADS.+

IN ORDER TO TEST THE PRACTICABILITY OF THIS PROPOSAL, THE PILOT SCHEME WOULD BE EMBARKED ON SHORTLY UNDER THE ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE, HE SAID.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HO KAM-FAI ON STEPS TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT SUCH STREETS ARE MAINTAINED IN A CLEAN AND SANITARY CONDITION.

+THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A DAILY CLEANSING SERVICE TO PRIVATE STREETS WHICH ARE NOT MAINTAINED IN A CLEAN AND SANITARY CONDITION BY THE OWNERS OR THE DEVELOPER,+ MR AKERS-JONES SAID.

+ IT MUST BE APPRECIATED THAT ITS ACTIONS IN THIS RESPECT ARE RESTRICTED BY THE FACT THAT THESE STREETS ARE PRIVATE LAND.+

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