XN000022-1986-03-04 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1986

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- IN THE +EACH CARD WILL REACH OUT AND PERHAPS TOUCH EMOTIVE SENSE SOMEONE ABROAD WHO, IN OUR INCREASINGLY AUTOMATED AND DEPERSONALISED WORLD, WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF SUCH A HIGHLY PERSONALISED GESTURE.+

POSTCARDS FOR 'PEN FRIENDS' ARE FREELY AVAILABLE AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES HEADQUARTERS, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, QUEEN'S ROAD, CENTRAL AT ITS CO-ORDINATING CENTRE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE.

MARCH 6 ELECTION A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD

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THE FORTHCOMING URBAN COUNCIL AND FOR THE FIRST TIME REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON THURSDAY (MARCH 6), MARK ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY.

THERE ARE 39 CANDIDATES VYING FOR THE 15 SINGLE-SEAT CONSTITUENCIES TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND 40 CANDIDATES CONTESTING THE 12 SINGLE-SEAT CONSTITUENCIES TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ELECTIONS, MR LIAO SAID: +A VOTE FOR AN URBAN OR REGIONAL COUNCILLOR REPRESENTS TRUE PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE.

+ELECTIONS AND THE CONCEPT OF ELECTIONS HAVE BECOME A FAMILIAR PROCESS FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET SOMEONE OF THEIR CHOICE INTO VARIOUS LEVELS OF ADMINISTRATION.

+THEY ALSO FORM A WITAL PART OF CIVIC EDUCATION WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY.+

MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT WHILE ELECTIONS WERE NOTHING NEW TO THE URBAN COUNCIL WITH ITS LONG HISTORY, THURSDAY'S ELECTIONS IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WERE A BRAND NEW EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS.

+FOR THE FIRST TIME RESIDENTS OF THE GROWING NEW TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS WILL HAVE A SAY IN CHOOSING THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE NEW COUNCIL WHICH WILL LOOK AFTER THE IR WELFARE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, RECREATION FACILITIES AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, HE SAID.

+UNLIKE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OR THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS CONTROL THEIR OWN BUDGETS IN THE PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS CLEANING THE STREETS, PROVIDING RECREATION AND AMENITIES, CONTROLLING HAWKERS AND LICENSING VARIOUS ESTABLISHMENT, HE ADDED,

/THE ROLE