XN000022-1984-07-01 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JULY 1, 1984

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YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO VOTE IN DB ELECTIONS

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CHANGES TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL NEXT YEAR WILL MARK THE COMPLETION OF AN IMPORTANT PHASE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG.

THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS- JONES, SAID THIS TODAY (SUNDAY) AT THE ROTARACT DAY OF ROTARACT INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 345.

THE CHANGES INCLUDE ELECTIONS FOR TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS AND HAVING UNOFFICIALS AS CHAIRMEN.

HE SAID HE EXPECTED THIS SYSTEM TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ITS OWN CHARACTERISTICS IN THE YEARS AHEAD TO BE BECOME SOMETHING WHICH IS UNIQUELY +HONG KONG+.

POINTING OUT THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS ALREADY HAD ESTABLISHED LINKS WITH THE CENTRAL COUNCILS OF HONG KONG, HE SAID THEY WOULD PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN THE EVENTUAL SETTING UP OF A SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

+THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL, BY THIS REPRESENTATIVE PROCESS, BE PUT IN A POSITION OF GREATER POWER TO CONTROL THE PACE AND DIRECTION OF CHANGE, WHICH WERE MAINLY INSPIRED BY GOVERNMENT IN THE PAST.

*THIS WILL NOT ONLY MODIFY THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION, IT WILL HAVE AN INCALCULABLE IMPACT ON THE LIFE OF PEOPLE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

+THEY WILL HAVE A DIRECT INPUT IN THE FORMULATION AND EXECUTION OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN EVERY AREA THAT AFFECTS THEIR DAILY LIFE HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE, TRANSPORT AND SO ON,+ MR AKERS-JONES SAID.

HE STRESSED IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE SUFFICIENT EXPERTS, TECHNOCRATS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE CENTRAL COUNCILS TO ENSURE THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND ASPIRATIONS OF ITS PEOPLE AT THE GRASS ROOTS.

THIS WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT IT HAS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE GOVERNMENT THE WISDOM AND SKILL TO DEVISE THE BEST POLICIES TO MAINTAIN THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG SO AS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND SATISFY THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.

MR AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO WILL BE THE MEN IN THE STREET OF TOMORROW, HAD A TWO-FOLD INTEREST IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS, AND A DUAL CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE.

+FIRSTLY, IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE YOU SHOULD REGISTER TO VOTE AND YOU SHOULD CAST YOUR VOTE IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS, HE SAID.

+THE MORE