XN000022-1985-03-20 — Page 13

12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1985

ROLE OF KAI FONG ASSOCIATIONS STRESSED

****

KAI FONG ASSOCIATIONS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT POLICY AND MANAGING DISTRICT AFFAIRS, THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR SYLVESTER TSE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THIS BY ACTIVELY INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME WHICH WAS LAUNCHED THREE YEARS AGO,+ HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE 20TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SHAM SHUI PO KAI FONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION, MR TSE SAID MORE THAN HALF OF THE INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD WERE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL KAI FONG ASSOCIATIONS.

HE SAID THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF KALFONG ASSOCIATIONS ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THE NEWLY ELECTED LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS,

MR TSE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SHAM SHUI PO KAI FONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION FOR ITS LONG TIME CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY INTEGRITY AND RESIDENTS' WELL-BEING.

THE SHAM SHUI PO KAI FONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION WAS THE FIRST KALFONG ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG 35 YEARS AGO AND IS NOW OPERATING A SCHOOL, A HEALTH AND DENTAL CLINIC AND AN ELDERLY CENTRE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING VARIOUS SERVICES TO RESIDENTS.

THERE ARE A TOTAL OF EIGHT KAI FONG ASSOCIATIONS IN THE DISTRICT, WHOSE MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE COMMUNITY BUILDING AND PROMOTION OF RESIDENTS' WELFARE.

ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF KALFONG ASSOCIATIONS, MR TSE SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO REJUVENATE THE LEADERSHIP TO KEEP IN LINE WITH CHANGING TIMES.

+ THE ASSOCIATIONS SHOULD AIM AT ABSORBING NEW BLOOD AND POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS SO THAT THE FUTURE LEADERSHIP COULD BE FILLED BY ENERGETIC YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS RESOURCEFUL VETERANS, HE SAID.

MR TSE CALLED ON THE ASSOCIATIONS TO BROADEN THEIR GRASSROOTS BASE BY STRENGTHENING THEIR CONTACTS WITH RESIDENTS.

/13