XN000022-1984-03-09 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984

CONSULTATION WITH PEOPLE WIDENED

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WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTENSIFIED CONSULTATION WITH ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE SAID THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES WOULD BETTER MEET LOCAL CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.

MR WIGGHAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION WHICH HAS JUST BEEN SET UP UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

HE SAID THE 800-PLUS FACTORIES AND THE IR 25 000 WORKERS IN SOUTHERN CONSTITUTED A UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE DISTRICT.

+THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAVE ALWAYS PLACED MUCH EMPHASIS ON ESTABLISHING CLEAR CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THIS PARTICULAR SECTOR, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT IN RECENT YEARS HAD ADDED TO THE ALREADY EXCELLENT CONDITIONS THERE FOR THE STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF ITS INDUSTRIES.

THESE DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDE THE OPENING OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROAD NETWORK AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THE COMPLETION OF WELL-EQUIPPED INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AND THE POPULATION INCREASE, PROVIDING A LOCAL LABOUR SUPPLY TO INDUSTRIES.

+HOWEVER, THE PROCESS OF CHANGE PARTICULARLY IN A PLACE LIKE

HONG KONG IS NEVER ENDING, MR WIGGHAM SAID.

+ IN ORDER THAT THESE CHANGES CAN BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY BE IMPROVED, AND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES BETTER COORDINATED.

• HAVE NO DOUBT THAT, WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION, AND THROUGH CLOSER LIAISON BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL INDUSTRIAL ISTS, THE BOARD WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND OPINIONS OF INDUSTRIAL ISTS, AND THUS HELP FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

+AT, THE SAME TIME, THE ASSOCIATION CAN PROVIDE A GOOD COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FACTORIES AND WORKERS, SO THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES CAN BE CARRIED OUT MORE SMOOTHLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, + MR WIGGHAM ADDED.

THE INAUGURATION WAS FOLLOWED BY A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR A LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION HELD BY THE ASSOCIATION LAST MONTH.

ALSO PRESENT