XN000022-1984-05-04 — Page 13

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1984

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TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER MEETS TAXI OPERATORS

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR JAMES SO, TODAY HELD A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL NEW TERRITORIES TAXI ASSOCIATIONS TO HEAR THEIR VIEWS ON THE 1983 TAXI REVIEW REPORT.

THE MEETING WAS CALLED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO EXPLAIN THE POLICY ISSUES RAISED IN THE REVIEW AND TO GIVE TAXI OPERATORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT AND AIR THEIR VIEWS.

THEIR VIEWS TOGETHER WITH THOSE OF VARIOUS DISTRICT BOARDS AND INTERESTED PARTIES WILL BE PROCESSED AND SUBMITTED TO THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.

MR SO WILL ALSO MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXI ASSOCIATIONS ON MAY 9.

MORE LOCAL LEADERS BEING SOUGHT FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS +CLEARLY SEEKING OUT MORE LOCAL LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, + THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN AND WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LAM KAM KWONG, SAID TODAY.

ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WOULD NOT ONLY GROW IN TERMS OF NUMBERS BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

MR LAM REFERRED TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY THAT THE RATIO OF ELECTED TO APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BE INCREASED FROM 11 TO 21 WHEN THE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE IN MARCH 1985.

+ IN EFFECT, THIS MEANS A DOUBLING OF THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF ELECTED UNOFFICIALS IN MANY DISTRICTS,+ HE SAID.

REFERRING TO NEXT YEAR'S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, MR LAM SAID IT WOULD BE ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE EVOLUTION OF A FRAMEWORK WHEREBY HONG KONG PEOPLE WILL BE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN MAINTAINING THE ORDER AND PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY+.

VOTING IN THE ELECTIONS, HE SAID, WAS ALSO AN INDICATION OF RESIDENTS' SUPPORT FOR SYSTEM WHICH HAD WORKED, AND WOULD WORK TO THE BEST OF THEIR INTEREST.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, MR LAM SAID THAT MUCH PROGRESS BEING MADE IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND REPRESENTATION OF PUBLIC OPINION THROUGH DISTRICT BOARDS.

/+THE PROVISION