XN000022-1992-10-28 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1992

EARLIER, IN FOCUSING ON THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF DBS, MR SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS CAPABILITY IN DEALING WITH STREET MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS AND OTHER ISSUES.

SUEN

AND

LOCAL

HE SAID DISTRICT BOARDS WERE BETTER PLACED TO ARRIVE AT A JUDGEMENT ON THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICTING DEMANDS IN THE INTERESTS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITY THAN IS THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL ALSO PLAY THEIR PART BY BECOMING MORE SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO DISTRICT NEEDS.

"DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH EACH OTHER AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS TO WORK OUT COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLANS TO TACKLE DISTRICT PROBLEMS ON A CO-ORDINATED BASIS."

PRIORITIES WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE AGREED WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS WITH THESE DEPARTMENTS BECOMING MORE ACCOUNTABLE ΤΟ THE ADVISORY BODIES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH ACTION PLANS, HE SAID.

FURTHERMORE, REGULAR REPORTS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE BOARDS TO ENABLE THEM TO MONITOR PROGRESS CLOSELY.

INADEQUATE

AS THE WORK OF DISTRICT BOARDS IS OFTEN HAMPERED BY FUNDS, MR SUEN SAID SUBJECT TO THE NECESSARY APPROVAL, FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THEM WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED FROM $51 MILLION THIS YEAR $100 MILLION IN 1994-95.

TO

"WITH MORE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO HELP FUND DESERVING COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CIVIC EDUCATION PROJECTS, COMMUNITY AWARENESS SCHEMES, VOLUNTARY SERVICES FOR THE NEEDY AND CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS."

ΤΟ FURTHER ENHANCE THE ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS, MR SUEN SAID THEY WOULD BE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY HALLS AND CENTRES.

BOARD FIGHT

AND IN ADDITION TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, SUCH AS SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEES AND THE CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEES, DISTRICT CHAIRMEN WILL ALSO BE CONSULTED ON APPOINTMENTS TO DISTRICT CRIME COMMITTEES AND THE BOARDS WILL THEMSELVES FORM NOT LESS THAN HALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THESE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES.

AS TO THE COMPOSITION OF A DISTRICT BOARD, MR SUEN BELIEVED THE 30 OPTIMUM NUMBER FOR EFFICIENCY OF OPERATION SHOULD BE BETWEEN 15 TO MEMBERS.

THE POPULATION SIZE ON THE BASIS OF SINGLE SEAT CONSTITUENCIES, HE SAID, SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY SMALL.

"WE BELIEVE THAT CONSTITUENCIES EACH WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT 17,000 PEOPLE ARE AS LOW AS WE CAN GO."

/FIRST,

HOWEVER