XN000022-1987-01-11 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 1987

+AS THE SCHEME HAS ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR IN THE DISTRICT, THE BOARD DECIDED TO CHANGE ITS FORMAT TO HEAR MORE CASES IN EACH SESSION, THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI, SAID TODAY.

AT PRESENT, RESIDENTS ARE INTERVIEWED BY TWO BOARD MEMBERS AT THE SAME TIME AND A MAXIMUM OF SIX CASES CAN BE HANDLED IN EACH SESSION. MEMBERS ARE WORKING ON A ROSTER SYSTEM AND SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED EVERY THURSDAY EVENING,

+BY SPLITTING UP THE PAIR FROM NOW ON, EACH MEMBER WILL BE ATTENDING TO THE COMPLAINANT SEPARATELY. THIS WOULD DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF CASES HEARD IN EACH SESSION,+ HE SAID.

REVIEWING THE SCHEME RECORD, MR CHOW SAID ASSISTANCE WAS SOUGHT BY MORE THAN 175 RESIDENTS SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR, AVERAGING ALMOST FIVE CASES AT EACH SESSION.

+WE ARE PROUD THAT OUR SCHEME IS WELL-RECEIVED SO FAR,+ HE SAID.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES INVOLVED HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL, BUILDING MANAGEMENT, HAWKERS AND MARKET PROBLEMS. THEY ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF CASES HANDLED.

OF THE CASES RECEIVED 56 PER CENT WERE SUCCESSFULLY TACKLED, EITHER BY FURNISHING ADVICE OR HAVING THEM REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OR THE BOARD'S COMMITTEES FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

+WE WOULD LIKE TO URGE MORE RESIDENTS TO MAKE USE OF THE SCHEME TO BRING THEIR PROBLEMS AND VIEWS TO OUR NOTICE,+ MR CHOW SAID.

APART FROM MEETING THE PUBLIC IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, MEMBERS ALSO VISIT BUILDINGS REGULARLY TO PROMOTE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND SOLICIT VIEWS FROM RESIDENTS.

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