XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 61

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR, MR LIAO SAID THE URBAN MANAGEMENT ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS HAD REEN EXERCISED THROUGH THE ADVICE THEY GAVE TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR GENERAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF DECISION-MAKING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTRICT AFFAIRS.

+ IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES AND PROPOSED PROJECTS AFFECTING THE DISTRICTS ARE NORMALLY SUBMITTED TO THE BOARDS FOR ADVICE AND COMMENT, HE SAID.

+THESE INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES FOR NEW TOWNS SOCIAL SERVICE AND EDUCATION FACILITIES, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES, CLEARANCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THE BUS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.+

ONE MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENT HAD BEEN THE ACTIVE ROLE PLAYED BY THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN IDENTIFYING TARGET BUILDINGS FOR THE PROVISION OF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE BY THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT TEAMS WHICH WERE NOW IN OPERATION IN FOUR DISTRICTS, MR LIAO SAID.

+ AM DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SELECT MEMBERS TO SIT ON THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES SET UP UNDER THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND ARE ABLE TO PLAY A GREATER PART IN DECISIONS REGARDING THE PROVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.+

+ IT IS, HOWEVER, TOO EARLY TO ASSESS HOW SUCCESSFUL THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE, BUT THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES ARE CHAIRED BY THE DISTRICT BOARDS' REPRESENTATIVES ON THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IS AN ENCOURAGING START,+

PSYCHOLOGISTS ATTACHED TO FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES

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CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE ATTACHED TO SOME FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE REHABILITATION, ELDERLY AND CHILD CARE COUNSELLING SERVICES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON NIGEL SHIPMAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR SHIPMAN SAID THE ROLE AND DEMAND FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS TO SUPPORT COUNSELLING SERVICES WAS IDENTIFIED IN 1984, ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF A WORKING GROUP WITH MEMBERSHIP FROM BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE SECTOR.

/THE WORKING