XN000022-1992-10-28 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1992

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"I SHOULD EMPHASISE THEREFORE THAT IN OUR VIEW PENSIONS ARE SECURE," HE STATED.

NEVERTHELESS, MR WIGGHAM SAID IN RESPONSE TO STAFF REQUESTS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD UNDERTAKEN A STUDY OF POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES FOR THE FUTURE.

"SEVERAL OPTIONS HAVE BEEN EXAMINED INCLUDING THE OPTION OF A PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME FOR FUTURE SERVICE.

"WE SHALL BE LOOKING FURTHER AT THIS PARTICULAR IDEA IN THE CONTEXT OF TERRITORY-WIDE COMPULSORY PRIVATE SECTOR RETIREMENT SCHEMES," HE ADDED.

POLITICAL EVOLUTION OF DISTRICT BOARDS NECESSARY: SHA

* * * * *

STAGE OF CONSIDERED TERRITORY,

HONG KONG HAS NOW REACHED A POINT WHERE THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME HAS TO BE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OVERALL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON,

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS, MR SUEN SAID THIS WAS THE REASON WHY THE GOVERNOR HAD OUTLINED A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN DISTRICT BOARDS' PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL AFFAIRS.

AND,

IN THIS REGARD, MR SUEN EMPHASISED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP ON THESE BOARDS "IS IN NO WAY INTENDED TO BELITTLE THEIR WORK".

"IT MERELY RECOGNISES THAT THE NEXT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT BOARDS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE OVERALL TREND TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE POLITICAL STRUCTURE.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY APPOINTED MEMBERS, MR SUEN HOPED THAT WITH THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL CONSTITUENCIES FROM 274 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS TO ABOUT 340 THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS TO SEEK A FURTHER TERM OF OFFICE IN 1994 THROUGH CONTESTING ELECTIONS.

AS FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO RETAIN EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS, MR SUEN SAID THIS WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE EVOLUTIONARY NATURE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS.

THESE MEMBERS, HE SAID, WERE AN IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN THE INDIGENOUS NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS BETWEEN VILLAGERS AND THE NEW RESIDENTS NOW LIVING IN THE AREA.

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ALTHOUGH THEIR NUMBERS WERE SMALL AND THEY HAVE ALL BEEN ELECTED, MR SUEN SAID THEIR MEMBERSHIP ON DISTRICT BOARDS WILL SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN DUE COURSE.

/EARLIER, IN