XN000022-1984-05-12 — Page 6

SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1984

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BOARD STRIVES FOR MORE YOUTH EFFORT

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THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD IS WORKING HARD TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY WORK, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDWARD YAU, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

HE SAID THAT THE BOARD'S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE WAS CONDUCTING A STUDY TO FIND OUT THE LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY WOULD HELP GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE WISHES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR RECREATIONAL NEEDS, HE SAID.

MR YAU WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF A PROJECT YOUTH - RESOURCES OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT+ ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG JAYCEETTES.

ASIDE FROM ORGANISING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, MR YAU SAID, THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD WOULD CONTINUE TO STUDY PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS, AND TO POOL RESOURCES TO SOLVE SUCH PROBLEMS.

DISCUSSING TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT MATTERS, HE SAID FIVE NEW BUS ROUTES WOULD BE INTRODUCED AND THE FREQUENCIES OF SIX OTHER BUS ROUTES WOULD BE INCREASED IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

IN ADDITION, A SIX-LANE COASTAL BY-PASS, RUNNING FROM THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET TO AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE WOULD BE PARTIALLY OPEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.

MR YAU SAID THE BOARD WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE 28 000 RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT'S 40-MORE SQUATTER AREAS.

ABOUT $480 000 HAD BEEN SPENT LAST YEAR ON 48 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS RELATING TO ACCESS, WATER SUPPLY, REFUSE COLLECTION, SANITARY FACILITIES, POSTAL SERVICE AND AMENITY FACILITIES. AND $560 000 HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

MR YAU SAID THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT HAD A DIVERSIFIED COMMUN I TY OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS.

+SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, THE BOARD HAS TAKEN MEASURES, SUCH AS THE 'MEET-THE-PUBLIC' SCHEME, MONTHLY SEMINARS WITH DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY AND AN OPINION-GATHERING POSTGRAMME, TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE RESIDENTS.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH THESE STEPS, BETTER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING COULD BE FOSTERED AND BETTER FACILITIES AND SERVICES WOULD BE PROVIDED, THUS LEADING TO A STRONGER COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND DISTRICT IDENTITY, MR YAU SAID.

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