XN000022-1985-01-16 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1985

INTEREST IN DB ELECTIONS GROWS

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MORE THAN 270 CANDIDATES HAVE SO FAR REGISTERED TO STAND FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON MARCH 7, THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THIS SHOWED THE PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS. HE SAID IN WELCOMING 10 MEMBERS OF THE ALL-CHINA STUDENTS FEDERATION WHO ATTENDED THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.

MR LAM SAID THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 1.5 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS, AND NEW DISTRICT BOARDS WITH A TENURE OF THREE YEARS WOULD EMERGE AFTER THE MARCH ELECTIONS,

THE NEW BOARDS WOULD COMPRISE ELECTED AND GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED MEMBERS ONLY.

+THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE ELECTED FROM AMONG ALL THE DB MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

+GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEND MEETINGS AND GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO THE WORK OF DISTRICT BOARDS,

+THE WORK OF DISTRICT BOARDS SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT LINK IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

MR LAM SAID THAT WITH THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN RECENT YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECENTLY FORMULATED PLANS TO DEVELOP FURTHER THE SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE TIMES.

+ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM IS THE ADDITION OF ELECTED MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD IN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, HE SAID.

MR LAM ALSO SPOKE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, AND THE WORK OF DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND DISTRICT BOARD.

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