XN000022-1995-03-20 — Page 8

7.

DBs' work fully recognised: DHA

The Government attaches great importance to the work of the district boards, the Director of Home Affairs, Mr Joseph Wong, said today (Monday).

Speaking at a reception for members of the 18 district boards, Mr Wong said the Chief Secretary had recently issued an internal document to various heads of government departments, encouraging them to co-operate with the boards and listen to the members' views.

The establishment of a new Home Affairs Department on December 1 last year, he pointed out, was to improve the co-operation as well as the communications between the administration, the district boards and local residents.

Mr Wong also hoped that the relationship between the Government and the district boards could be enhanced through mutual trust and a better liaison.

As to the work of the Home Affairs Department, Mr Wong said the department had recently published a handbook which provided useful information about its roles and services.

Meanwhile, Mr Wong said the district board elections last year was a milestone in the further development of district administration.

The introduction of the new nine functional constituencies in the September Legislative Council elections was an unprecedented move, he said, noting that this arrangement enabled each functional group in the territory to have a representative in the law-making body.

In this connection, Mr Wong urged the district board members to cast their ballots in the LegCo elections and to support the voter registration of the functional constituencies.

End/Monday, March 20, 1995