XN000022-1985-12-11 — Page 11

NES Y DECEMBER 11, 1985

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THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FURTHER STRENGTHENED WITH THE ELECTION OF 10 DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS YEAR, MR LIAO NOTED.

+I AGREE ENTIRELY WITH AN OBSERVATION THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENT IS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM WHEREBY CENTRAL POLICIES WILL BE MORE FIRMLY BASED ON THE WISHES OF THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.

MR LIAO ALSO AGREED THAT IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, IT SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN A GRADUAL MANNER, AND THE ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BE EXAMINED IN THE LIGHT OF THE SAME PRINCIPLE.

+WHILE SOME HAVE CONTENDED THAT THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARDS SHOULD BE EXPANDED, OTHERS BELIEVE THAT THE PRIME FUNCTION OF THE BOARDS SHOULD REMAIN ADVISORY, THUS ENABLING THEM TO EXERT INFLUENCE OVER A WIDER AREA OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS RATHER THAN BEING INVOLVED IN A NARROW RANGE OF DAY-TO-DAY EXECUTIVE DUTIES, HE SAID.

MR LIAO NOTED THAT DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS IN THE

NON-URBAN AREAS WERE INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THEIR DISTRICTS THROUGH THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES SET UP BY THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.

+THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL BE EXPANDED WHEN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TAKES UP ITS FUNCTIONS IN APRIL NEXT YEAR AND MAY NEED TO BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE, HE SAID.

ON THE QUESTIONS OF PROVIDING MORE SECRETARIAT SUPPORT TO THE BOARDS AND SUBSIDISED OFFICE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MEMBERS, MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH RESOURCES WERE NOT UNLIMITED, ADDITIONAL STAFF MIGHT BE SOUGHT WHERE JUSTIFIED, AND THAT ACCOMMODATION WAS AVAILABLE IN ALL COMMUNITY CENTRES FOR MEMBERS TO HOLD THEIR 'MEET THE PUBLIC' SESSIONS.

MR LIAO ALSO NOTED THAT THE HONORARIUM FOR BOARD MEMBERS WAS INCREASED FROM $2 000 TO $3 500 A MONTH TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INFLATION AND THE INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BOARD BUSINESS.

+THE GOVERNMENT IS, HOWEVER, FULLY AWARE OF THE INCREASING WORKLOAD OF BOARD MEMBERS AND WILL REVIEW THE HONORARIUM FROM TIME TO TIME, HE SAID.

+AT THE SAME TIME, GOVERNMENT IS ALSO LOOKING INTO WAYS IN WHICH THE AMBIT OF DB FUNDS COULD BE BROADENED AND MADE MORE FLEXIBLE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT BOARDS, + HE ADDED.

TURNING TO YOUTH POLICY, MR LIAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING UP A NEW CO-ORDINATING BODY TO PROVIDE A FOCAL POINT FOR ORGANISING YOUTH ACTIVITIES.

ANOTHER SOLUTIUN