XN000022-1985-03-06 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1985

+EACH CONTROLLING OFFICER TO WHOM QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED FOR ORAL REPLIES WILL BE CALLED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PRE-ARRANGED TIMETABLE. I SHALL THEN INVITE MEMBERS TO PUT THEIR QUESTIONS TO HIM. AFTER HE HAS ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS OF WHICH HE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HE MAY BE REQUESTED TO ANSWER FURTHER QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO HIS FUNCTIONS AS CONTROLLING OFFICER.

+ THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPILATION OF THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, AND SOME OF HIS STAFF WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO PROVIDE FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF THE ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION AT MY REQUEST, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.

+WHEN THE MEETINGS ARE CONCLUDED, THE DEPUTY CLERK WILL PREPARE A REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS, WHICH WILL BE TABLED. IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE THIRD BUDGET SITTING, THAT IS TO SAY, WHEN THE APPROPRIATION BILL HAS REACHED THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THE THIRD READING.

+WITH THIS BRIEF INTRODUCTION, I SHALL NOW PROCEED WITH TODAY'S AGENDA,+

URBCO CHAIRMAN URGES VOTERS TO VOTE

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THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, TODAY CALLED ON ALL VOTERS TO SUPPORT THE TERRITORY-WIDE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS BY TURNING UP AT THE POLLING STATIONS AND CASTING THEIR VOTES TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

HE SAID THIS WOULD HELP UPHOLD THE TERRITORY'S EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS IN GIVING THE MAN IN THE STREET A BIGGER SAY IN HOW IMPORTANT POLICIES ARE SHAPED IN FUTURE.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THAT WITH THE TERRITORY'S LONG-TERM POLITICAL FUTURE HAVING BEEN CLEARLY SPELT OUT IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, HONG KONG IS NOW BEGINNING ITS PROCESS OF DEMOCRATISATION OF GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE ITSELF READY FOR SELF-ADMINISTRATION AFTER 1997.

+LAST NOVEMBER'S PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT STARTED THE BALL OF DEMOCRATISATION ROLLING, AND TOMORROW'S ELECTIONS WILL BE A FURTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

/+ALTOGETHER 501