XN000022-1986-03-17 — Page 8

MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1986

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DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

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THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD ALLOCATED $520 000 TO SUBSIDISE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS ORGANISED BY THE BOARD AND LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE SUBSIDY, ADMINISTERED UNDER THE BOARD'S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, AIMED AT PROMOTING RESIDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND, THROUGH THE IR INVOLVEMENT, FOSTERING A BETTER SENSE OF BELONGING. IT REPRESENTED NEARLY HALF OF THE TOTAL FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE BOARD AND AMOUNTED TO A FOUR PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S SPENDING,

THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED AROUND 90 APPLICATIONS FROM ORGANISATIONS REQUESTING SPONSORSHIP AND MORE THAN BO WERE APPROVED. THESE INCLUDED 40 PROJECTS ORGANISED TO STRENGTHEN THE BOARD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SIX AREA COMMITTEES, RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS' CORPORATIONS, AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE BETTER COHESION AMONG RESIDENTS.

IN ADDITION, THE BOARD SPONSORED 43 CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY SUCH GROUPS AS THE YIN NGAI SOCIETY, THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE MONG KOK KAIFONG ASSOCIATION, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND YOUTH CENTRES.

THESE CATERED TO ALL AGE GROUPS, AND INCLUDED INTEREST CLASSES, SELF-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES, SEMINARS SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS, MUSICAL AND DANCE PERFORMANCES, PICNICS AND FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS.

THE COMMITTEE ALSO INITIATED PROJECTS TO ENHANCE RESIDENTS' AWARENESS OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. FOR INSTANCE, THE CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN HELPED TO PUBLICISE CIVIC RIGHTS ́ ́AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS. WHILE THE COMMUNITY IN PERSPECTIVE PROJECT INVESTIGATED THE EFFECTS OF BILLIARD SALOONS, VIDEO GAMES CENTRES AND CERTAIN SIGNBOARDS ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND OTHER RESIDENTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE BOARD HELPED TO PROMOTE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS CRIME PREVENTION AND ROAD SAFETY AND ALSO ORGANISED ACTIVITIES FOR THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME AND THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR.

+ THE BOARD HAS FOUND THAT THE SUBSIDY CAN EFFECTIVELY ENCOURAGE LOCAL GROUPS TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES TO BOOST RESIDENTS' PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN DISTRICT MATTERS, A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID.

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