XN000022-1992-10-09 — Page 31

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1992

DISTRICT BOARDS TO PLAY A MORE IMPORTANT ROLE

THE DISTRICT BOARDS WILL ASSUME A MORE SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN FUTURE,

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1992 WAN CHAI FESTIVAL AT THE HAPPY VALLEY SPORTS GROUND, MR SUEN SAID APART FROM INCREASES IN DISTRICT BOARD FUNDINGS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO TAKE UP MORE RESPONSIBILITIES IN LOCAL AFFAIRS.

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, IN HIS MAIDEN POLICY ADDRESS ON WEDNESDAY, PROPOSED THAT APPOINTED MEMBERS TO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS BE ABOLISHED IN 1994.

"THE PROPOSAL IS A NATURAL STEP FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHICH MEANS AN INCREASE IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS REPRESENTATIVE ROLE. MR SUEN SAID.

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MR SUEN SAID THE BOARDS HAD, OVER THE PAST DECADE, FULLY PLAYED AN INTERMEDIARY ROLE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC.

**THEY REFLECTED LOCAL RESIDENTS' VIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, AND CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND SO ON.

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"AND THE ADMINISTRATION ALL ALONG REGARDED THE VERY REPRESENTATIVE ADVISORY BODY AT DISTRICT LEVEL, HE SAID.

MR SUEN ADDED THAT THE BOARDS HAD MADE MUCH VARIOUS DISTRICTS.

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CITING WAN CHAI AS AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID THE DISTRICT BOARD, UNDER A "GREENING" CAMPAIGN, HAD PLANTED 600 TREES IN A FEW YEARS GIVING THE COMMERCIAL AREA A MORE COMFORTABLE AND FRESHER OUTLOOK.

THE BOARD ALSO SPONSORED FUNCTIONS ORGANISED BY LOCAL GROUPS AS WELL AS CO-ORGANISED ACTIVITIES WITH AREA COMMITTEES.

HE SAID THE TRIENNIAL WAN CHAI FESTIVAL PROVIDED LOCAL RESID NTS WITH A CHANCE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT AND ITS LATES DEVELOPMENT AND TO AROUSE THEIR CONCERN OVER LOCAL ISSUES.

TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME WAS KICKED OFF BY A GRAND PARADE ALONG THE 'EQUI TRACK" BY MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, KAIFONG ORGANISATIONS AND SPONSOR COMPANIES.

A 45-METRE "DANCING" DRAGON AND THE CHEUNG CHAU-TYPE FLOAT TEAMS WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS.

IN A FOLLOWING CEREMONY, MR SUEN, TOGETHER WITH A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR ALLEN LEE, WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR STEVEN LIU, RELEASED FOUR GIANT BALLOONS INTO THE AIR.

/A BANNER