XN000022-1984-05-04 — Page 14

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1984

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+THE PROVISION FOR ELECTIONS TO DISTRICT BOARDS, WHICH WAS FIRST PUT INTO PRACTICE IN THE 1982 ELECTIONS, WAS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE ON THE ROAD TO REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, + HE SAID.

THE DISTRICT BOARDS, HE SAID, HAD MATURED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH EXPERIENCE.

CITING THE STUDY ON THE TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MID-LEVELS AND THE CENTRAL DISTRICT+ AS AN EXAMPLE. HE POINTED OUT THAT UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN CONSULTING LOCAL OPINION, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT FELT MORE RE-ASSURED OF THE CHANNELS WHEREBY PUBLIC OPINION COULD BE TAPPED.

+APART FROM ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS, YOU ARE NO DOUBT AWARE THAT DISTRICT BOARDS ARE ALSO MAKING SINCERE EFFORTS IN REACHING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE LOCAL POPULATION, HE SAID.

+THE LIVELY DISCUSSION ON MANY BOARDS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN PURSUIT OF THE FAMOUS +LOBO MOTION+ LEND THE BEST TESTIMONY.

+THEY DO NOT ONLY WAIT THERE TO BE CONSULTED: THEY NOW TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN SEEKING TO DISCUSS MAJOR POLICY ISSUES RATHER THAN RESPONDING THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUESTS FOR VIEWS.+

MR LAM ADDED THAT THE BOARDS WERE BEGINNING TO ACT AS WATCHDOGS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND DESCRIBED THIS AS A HEALTHY TREND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INCREASINGLY REPRESENTATIVE ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG.

AS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES, HE SAID, THEY WERE UNIFIED BY THEIR CONCERN FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND BY THEIR WILLINGNESS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AND BELIEFS AS THEY GAINED INSIGHT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION.

MR LAM APPEALED TO THE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO REGISTER AS VOTERS, TO INFLUENCE THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE, AND TO STEP FORWARD TO STAND FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

ADDITIONAL FLOOR FOR QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL

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AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR IS TO BE BUILT ABOVE THE TWO-STOREY CLINICAL BUILDING AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE AND LECTURE FACILITIES.

QUEEN MARY IS THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR HONG KONG ISLAND AND A TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR THE MEDICAL FACULTY OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY.

IT PROVIDES CLINICAL TEACHING FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS, INCLUDING LECTURE THEATRES, SEMINAR ROOMS, LABORATORIES AND OFFICES WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE PROFESSORIAL BLOCK AND THE CLINICAL BUILDING WITHIN THE HOSPITAL COMPOUND.

/AS A