XN000022-1984-09-01 — Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1934

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SUPPORT FOR DISTRICT BOARDS URGED

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CHANGES TO DISTRICT BOARDS NEXT YEAR ARE AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONÉS, SAID TONIGHT.

THE BOARDS WOULD FACE UP TO THE IR NEW CHALLENGE, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO NEED PUBLIC SUPPORT, HE SAID.

IN HIS MESSAGE TO THE GRAND FINAL OF THE 18 DISTRICT AMATEUR SINGING CONTEST, HE SAID +ONE OF THE PRACTICAL WAYS OF SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT IS TO REGISTER AS VOTERS AND CAST YOUR VOTE ON POLLING DAY.+

HE ALSO URGED POTENTIAL VOTERS WHO HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO +HURRY UP+ DURING THE CURRENT REGISTRATION PERIOD WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL OCTOBER 1.

MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE GRAND FINAL MARKED THE CLIMAX WHERE THE NINE FINALISTS FACED THE CHALLENGE THEY HAD BEEN PREPARING FOR THROUGH DISTRICT COMPETITIONS AND THE SEMI-FINAL CONTEST.

THE NINE FINALISTS AND OTHERS WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE PRELIMINARIES HAD SHOWN THE IR POSITIVE SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICTS.

+THE AIM OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY TO ENABLE LOCAL RESIDENTS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR DISTRICT AFFAIRS AS WELL AS TO FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG THEM, HE SAID.

+TO THE NINE FINALISTS IN THIS SINGING CONTEST, THEIR VOICE IS ESSENTIAL TO THEM TO FACE THE CHALLENGE OF TONIGHT. LIKEWISE, YOUR VOICE, CRYSTALISED IN YOUR VOTE, IS INDISPENSABLE TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS TO MEET THEIR CHALLENGE.

+A VOTE IS A VOICE. REGISTER NOW?+

HE ADDED THAT THE SONG CONTEST DEMONSTRATED ENTHUSIASM AND SUPPORT FOR A UNITED EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE. +LET US ALL WORK IN HARMONY FOR A BETTER HONG KONG AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS.+

THE COMPETITION WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND SING TAO NEWSPAPERS LTD AS PART OF PUBLICITY EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE.

MORE THAN 3 000 SINGING ENTHUSIASTS TOOK PART IN THE CONTEST WHICH BEGAN IN APRIL WITH A SERIES OF PRELIMINARIES IN ALL 18 DISTRICTS.

THE NINE FINALISTS TONIGHT REPRESENTED THE FOLLOWING DISTRICTS: YUEN LONG, SAI KUNG, SHAM SHUI PO, KWUN TONG, KOWLOON CITY, MONG KOK, YAU MA TEI, CENTRAL AND WESTERN, AND EASTERN.

THREE SINGING GROUPS ALSO COMPETED FOR THE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP.