XN000022-1984-04-28 — Page 5

SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1984

LOCAL LEADERS PRAISED FOR COMMUNITY EFFORT

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THE 14 000 RESIDENTS IN TEMPORARY HOUSING AND SQUATTER AREAS IN SHAM SHUI PO CAN NOW APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM A VOLUNTARY SCHEME TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

A SHAM SHUI PO TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND SQUATTERS ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAS BEEN FORMED BY A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT, AND AN INITIAL SUM OF $150 000 HAS BEEN RAISED FOR THE SCHEME.

SPEAKING AT AN INAUGURATION CEREMONY TODAY (SATURDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHEME'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, MR TAI TUNG NGOK SAID THE MAIN AIM WAS TO AROUSE PUBLIC CONCERN FOR THE NEEDS OF THE LESS FORTUNATE.

HE SAID FUNDS FOR THE SCHEME WOULD BE OBTAINED FROM PRIVATE OR PUBLIC DONATIONS.

UNDER THE SCHEME, RESIDENTS CAN APPLY FOR FUNDS TO CARRY OUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS, COMMUNITY BUILDING, SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OR FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF.

MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, FIRE WATCH TEAMS AND OTHER CIVIC BODIES OF THE SQUATTER AND TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS ARE WELCOME TO APPLY THROUGH THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB- OFFICES.

ALSO ADDRESSING THE GATHERING, THE DISTRICT OFFICER

MR SYLVESTER TSE, PRAISED THE SCHEME'S ORGANISERS FOR THEIR PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND INITIATIVENESS IN PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS.

+THIS REFLECTS AN ENCOURAGING RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR DISTRICT INTEGRITY WHICH HAS BEEN THE MAIN THEME OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM, HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE THREE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

FIRSTLY, THIS IS PURELY A DISTRICT-BASED ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH HAS APTLY EMBODIED THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT,+ HE SAID.

+SECONDLY, IT IS A FUND SET UP VOLUNTARILY BY CIVIC-MINDED PERSONALITIES IN THE DISTRICT TO HELP THE POOR AND THE NEEDY, HENCE DEMONSTRATING A HIGH SPIRIT OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AND CONCERN AMONG RESIDENTS.

+LASTLY, IT IS A POSITIVE STEP IN PROMOTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN IMPROVING THE LIFE OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED.

+I LOOK FORWARD TO A WIDER LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHEME AND A FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE SCOPE OF ITS SERVICES IN THE YEARS TO COME,+ MR TSE ADDED.

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