XN000022-1987-05-22 — Page 11

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1987

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IMPORTANT ROLES OF AREA COMMITTEES STRESSED

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CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LAM KAM-KWONG, TODAY (FRIDAY) STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF AREA COMMITTEES IN THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.

ADDRESSING 22 NEWLY APPOINTED AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT A GATHERING AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE, MR LAM SAID THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AREA COMMITTEES WHICH HAD PROVED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TWO-WAY CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL RESIDENTS.

HE SAID THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF AREA COMMITTEES WERE TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND MEASURES, TO REFLECT THEIR VIEWS TO DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED AND TO IDENTIFY SHORTFALLS AND DEFICIENCIES OF COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THEIR AREA.

+PAST RECORD SHOWED THAT THEIR VIEWS WERE VERY OFTEN CONSTRUCTIVE AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE DISTRICT BOARD HAD CONSIDERABLE REGARD FOR THEM, HE SAID.

+AREA COMMITTEES HAVE ALSO PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY SPIRIT, HE ADDED.

MR LAM HOPED THAT AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO COME FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE COULD LIAISE MORE CLOSELY WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND ACT AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCALS.

HE ALSO REMINDED THEM TO REGISTER AS VOTERS FOR NEXT YEAR'S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHER KAIFONGS' TO DO THE SAME IN A MAJOR EXERCISE DUE TO START IN AUGUST.

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RESOURCE CENTRE FOR GUIDANCE TEACHERS TO BE SET UP

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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL SET UP A RESOURCE CENTRE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION MATERIALS ON CAREERS EDUCATION AND GENERAL GUIDANCE FOR CAREERS AND GUIDANCE MASTERS, THE SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (SERVICE AND INSTITUTIONS), MR BRIAN FRENCH, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 21ST CAREERS AND GUIDANCE MASTERS' SEMINAR, MR FRENCH SAID THE RESOURCE CENTRE WOULD BE ESTABLISHED ONCE ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES WERE AVAILABLE.

THE ANNUAL