XN000022-1988-10-18 — Page 11

10

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1988

WHICH FROM

PEOPLE WHICH WERE

THE COMMITTEE TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC TEMPLES HAD FALLEN INTO PRIVATE HANDS ΤΟ PREVENT UNSCRUPULOUS RELIGIOUS EXPLOITATION. IT ALSO MANAGED TEMPLES SURRENDERED BY THE PROPRIETORS VOLUNTARILY.

MR WONG SAID THE COMMITTEE NOW MANAGED 40 TEMPLES, OF WHICH 17 WERE DELEGATED TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION.

OF THE REMAINING 23 TEMPLES, 16 WERE DIRECTLY MANAGED BY THE COMMITTEE BY MEANS OF A SELF-ADMINISTRATION SCHEME WHEREBY MONEY DONATED BY PATRONS WAS RECEIVED. KEEPING OF THE OTHER SEVEN TEMPLES WAS DONE BY MEANS OF ANNUAL TENDERS.

MR WONG EXPLAINED THAT AS THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WAS THE EX-OFFICIO CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE BODY.

SUB-COMMITTEES

THE EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE

THERE WERE TWO SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE MAINTENANCE SUB-COMMITTEE.

"THE EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OVERSEES THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TEMPLES AND TENDERS FOR KEEPERSHIP, ASSESSES THE PERFORMANCE OF KEEPERS AND ARRANGES FOR RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND INVESTMENT, HE SAID.

T+

THE SUB-COMMITTEE ADMINISTERED TWO FUNDS. THE CHINESE TEMPLES WAS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF TEMPLE BUILDINGS AND FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF CUSTOMARY CEREMONIES.

FUND

THE GENERAL CHINESE CHARITIES FUND WAS MAINLY FOR DONATIONS VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

TO

EACH YEAR, MORE THAN $1 MILLION WAS PAID OUT FOR THE PURCHASE OF LIBRARY BOOKS, HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE, AND SO ON FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

THE MAINTENANCE SUB-COMMITTEE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS MAJOR RENOVATION OF TEMPLES.

APART FROM THE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF $3 MILLION ON REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF TEMPLES UNDER THE COMMITTEE, $150,000 WAS ALSO SET ASIDE FROM WHICH OTHER TEMPLES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES COULD OBTAIN FUNDS BY APPLICATION TO THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (NEW TERRITORIES) FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.

MR WONG SAID THE SUB-COMMITTEE WOULD WORK OUT A PRIORITY LIST FOR MAJOR RENOVATION AND WORK TO REFURBISH THE TEMPLES WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN TURN.

RENOVATION WORKS