XN000022-1984-10-25 — Page 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1984

ON CRIME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID IT HAD DOUBLED SINCE 1979 WITH THE GROWTH OF THE NEW TOWNS, AND HE APPEALED TO THE AUTHORITIES TO DEPLOY MORE POLICE OFFICERS TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

HE HOPED THE CONSTANT POLICE PATROLS PROVIDED ON MTRC TRAINS COULD BE EXTENDED TO KCR TRAINS, AS CROWDED PLATFORMS AND TRAIN CABINS WERE IDEAL PLACES FOR PICKPOCKETS.

SPEAKING ABOUT WATER SUPPLY ON MA WAN, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION WAS FIRST DRAWN TO THE PLIGHT OF THE ISLANDERS IN 1967 AND IT HAD TAKEN 17 YEARS TO DECIDE ON A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. A PROJECT TO LAY A SUPPLY MAIN FROM YAU KAM TAU WOULD BE COMPLETED IN MID-1987, BUT MR CHEUNG ASKED IF CONSIDERATION COULD BE GIVEN TO PROVIDING SOME INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS.

HE FULLY SUPPORTED A PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RURAL CENTRES TO PROVIDE LOCAL VILLAGERS WITH FACILITIES SUCH AS COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AS HE THOUGHT THEY WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOOD OF VILLAGERS IN REMOTE PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ANOTHER +WORTHWHILE+ PROJECT WAS THE RESIDENTIAL UPGRADING PILOT SCHEME TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF VILLAGES SUCH AS SUN HING TSUEN IN TUEN MUN. HE HOPED IT COULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER VILLAGES WHICH REQUIRED SUCH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS.

ON THE TUEN MUN TO YUEN LONG LRT PROJECT, MR CHEUNG SAID THE KCRC BOARD, OF WHICH HE WAS A MEMBER, HAD EXAMINED THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES INTO THE PROJECT AND CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS COMMERCIALLY VIABLE AND WAS GOOD FOR THE LONG-TERM PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND PROSPERITY OF THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+OF COURSE, ONE CANNOT EXPECT SUCH A PROJECT TO YIELD AS QUIC- A RETURN OF CAPITAL AS MANUFACTURING, BUT THE SINO-BRITISH DRAFT AGREEMENT HAS CLEARED UP UNCERTAINTIES OF THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND REINFORCED OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE LRT PROJECT, MR CHEUNG SAID.

HK-CHINA ANTI-CRIME EFFORT URGED BY MARIA TAM *****

A CALL FOR JOINT EFFORTS BY CHINA AND HONG KONG TO STAMP OUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES WAS MADE BY THE HON MARIA TAM TODAY.

SPEAKING ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS. IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MARIA TAM SAID THE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND ORDER WAS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN MAINTAINING SOCIAL STABILITY IN HONG KONG.

/+THE PEOPLE'S