XN000022-1986-03-21 — Page 4

FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1986

SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION

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THE EIGHTH MEETING OF THE SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION WAS HELD ON MARCH 21, 1986. HAVING REGARD TO HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, AND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A STABLE PROPERTY MARKET THE TWO SIDES AGREED THAT THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME FOR THE 1986-87 FINANCIAL YEAR SHOULD AMOUNT TO 55 HECTARES. THE PROGRAMME COMPRISES ABOUT 21 HECTARES FOR COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS; ABOUT 15 ECTARES FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEMES: AND ABOUT 19 HECTARES FOR COMMUNITY, INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS AND OTHER USES, INCLUDING 3.5 HECTARES FOR THE PROVISION OF BACK- UP FACILITIES FOR THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER PORT.

+NEW HORIZON FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE+

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A NEW HORIZON HAS EMERGED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING TO STUDENTS OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE, MR LIAO NOTED THAT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE TAKING AN INCREASINGLY ACTIVE INTEREST IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

+THROUGH JOINING MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, AREA COMMITTEES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, THEY CAN INFLUENCE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT.

+ THE DISTRICT BOARDS PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION IN MATTERS OF A WIDER CONCERN AND ALSO PROVIDE AN ACCESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID.

MR LIAO SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT IN THE 1985 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, 56 PER CENT OF THE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS WERE AGED BETWEEN 21 AND 40, COMPARED WITH 34 PER CENT IN 1982.

FOR THE 1986 URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION, 47 PER CENT OF THE ELECTED COUNCILLORS WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 40, COMPARED WITH 33 PER CENT IN 1983, WHILE IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTION, 75 PER CENT OF THOSE ELECTED WERE UNDER 40 YEARS OLD, MR LIAO SAID.

+THE FOUNDING OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS COULD HELP IN CULTIVATING AND DEVELOPING THE POTENTIALS OF OUR YOUTH, + HE SAID,

LIAC