XN000022-1985-02-24 — Page 8

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1985

CIVIC EDUCATION AND ELECTION FORTNIGHT

****

THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO DEVELOP A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG AND EVERY CITIZEN HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP REALISE THIS SYSTEM.

THIS WAS STATED BY DR J.W. HAYES, REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES TODAY (SUNDAY) AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A +CIVIC EDUCATION AND ELECTION FORTNIGHT+ ORGANISED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG BETWEEN FEBRUARY 24 AND MARCH 10.

REGISTERED VOTERS SHOULD THEREFORE CAST THEIR VOTES ON MARCH 7 AND ELECT ABLE CANDIDATES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.

J

IN REVIEWING THE COURSE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, DR HAYES NOTED THAT THE SYSTEM FIRST TOOK SHAPE IN 1977 WHEN A DISTRICT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE WAS FORMED IN TSUEN WAN.

HE EMPHASISED IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PROMOTE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AS THE GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO LISTEN TO PUBLIC OPINION BEFORE FORMULATING POLICIES.

TODAY'S OCCASION WAS ALSO A NEW YEAR GATHERING TO CELEBRATE THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF A POPULAR PHONE-IN PROGRAMME OF RTHK +TALKABOUT+.

MR CLIVE OXLEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING, POINTED OUT AT THE GATHERING THAT THE PROGRAMME HAD BEEN PUT ON AIR FOR MORE THAN 1 300 TIMES AND OVER 26 000 CALLS HAD BEEN BROADCAST. ON THE +CIVIC EDUCATION AND ELECTION FORTNIGHT+, HE SAID

IT WAS LAUNCHED TO PUBLICISE THE DB ELECTIONS.

A NUMBER OF PROGRAMMES WILL BE ORGANISED, INCLUDING VISITS TO DB MEETINGS BY STUDENTS, OPEN FORUMS, QUIZZES, A LATE- NIGHT PHONE-IN SPECIAL FOR DISCUSSION OF THE DB ELECTIONS, AND A SEMINAR TO EVALUATE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS.

/8