XN000022-1984-10-25 — Page 10

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1984

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+AT PRESENT, THERE DO NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY GUIDELINES ON WHEN AND ON WHAT ISSUES DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BE CONSULTED.

+HOWEVER, I HOPE THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COULD EXERCISE THE IR GOOD POLITICAL SENSE AND CONSULT THE VIEWS OF DISTRICT BOARDS WHEN STRONG PUBLIC REACTION IS ANTICIPATED FOR A PARTICULAR POLICY ISSUE,+ HE SAID.

MR CHAN RECALLED THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS AS SAYING THAT THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF SOME 80 PER CENT IN THE NUMBER OF ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FROM 132 TO 236 IN THE COMING ELECTION.

+BUT THIS WILL NOT NECESSARILY MEAN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF ADVICE TO BE GIVEN UNLESS CANDIDATES OF THE RIGHT CALIBRE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS ARE ENCOURAGED AND ARE PREPARED TO STAND FOR ELECTION.

+MORE PUBLICITY AND PERSUASION FROM THE GOVERNMENT, BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM EMPLOYERS AND MORE SPIRITED SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL BODIES ARE ESSENTIAL IF MORE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES WITH GOOD LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL AND DEDICATION ARE TO COME FORTH, + HE SAID.

WHILE STRESSING THE QUALITY OF CANDIDATES, MR CHAN SAID ONE MUST ALSO GUARD AGAINST THE TENDENCY OF CREATING A CLASS OF ELITE UNOFFICIALS WHO MAY BECOME MORE AND MORE ALOOF FROM THE PEOPLE.

+ THE BEST ASSURANCE IS FOR THE PEOPLE TO GROW WITH OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, HE SAID.

ON CIVIC EDUCATION, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE, PARTICULARLY THROUGH ITS VARIOUS COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES.

+HERE I PARTICULARLY WANT TO EMPHASISE THE POINT THAT DISTR BOARDS IN ORGANISING THEIR ACTIVITIES SHOULD, APART FROM THE RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT ELEMENTS, AIM AT INSTILLING AMONG TH:. LOCAL POPULATION, IN PARTICULAR THE YOUNGER GENERATION, A GREATER DEGREE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOVERNMENT AND OF THE ELECTION AND DEMOCRATISATION PROCESS, + HE SAID.

MR CHAN AGREED WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE SAID BUILDING A FUTURE WAS NOT A TASK FOR THE GOVERNMENT ALONE AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY MUST BECOME INVOLVED.

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