22. THE CASE OF TSUEN WAN IS DIFFERENT. THIS DISTRICT HAS NOW OVERTAKEN KWUN TONG IN POPULATION AND IS THE LARGEST OF ALL. IT INCLUDES NOT ONLY OLD TSUEN WAN BUT KWAI CHUNG, FROM WHICH IT IS SEPARATED BY A RANGE OF HILLS, AND TSING YI ISLAND. IT MAKES ADMINISTRATIVE SENSE TO KEEP IT AS ONE DISTRICT UNDER A DISTRICT COMMISSIONER BUT THE DISTRICT BOARD HAS AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD IN FUTURE BE TWO BOARDS ONE FOR TSUEN WAN TOWN AND ONE COVERING KWAI CHUNG AND TSING YI.* --
23. THE THIRD PROPOSAL WAS THAT THERE SHOULD BE INCREASED DISTRICT BOARD INVOLVEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION. THIS OBVIOUSLY MAKES SENSE IN THE CASE OF NEW TOWNS SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY MILES, BUT THERE ARE LOCAL VARIATIONS IN THE OLD URBAN AREAS TOO. THIS IDEA HAS BEEN WELCOMED AND SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AS TO HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. NO SWEEPING CHANGES ARE PROPOSED - RATHER DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF PRACTICAL METHODS OF FITTING IN THE SERVICES OF BOARD MEMBERS IN VARIOUS FIELDS. THIS WILL BE TAKEN FURTHER IN THE COMING MONTHS IN CONSULTATION WITH ALL CONCERNED.
24. NOW THAT WE CAN SEE THE WAY THROUGH TO COMPLETING THESE REFORMS AT THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS WE ARE IN A POSITION TO CARRY FURTHER THE WORK OF INTRODUCING A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.
25. THIS STAGE HAD TO BE DEALT WITH FIRST. THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE PROVED TO BE AN EXCELLENT FORUM FOR DEBATE ON LOCAL AFFAIRS AND ON IMPORTANT MATTERS FACING US ALL. THE ELECTED MEMBERS HAVE SHOWN THE VALUE OF THIS SYSTEM, WHICH IS NEW TO HONG KONG: THEIR INFLUENCE IS TO BE INCREASED. THE LACUNA OF A COUNCIL AT REGIONAL
LEVEL FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD TO BE FILLED.
26. IN ANSWERING A QUESTION AT THE LAST MEETING OF COUNCIL THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID WORK ON FORMULATING PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT STAGE WAS ALREADY IN HAND. WHEN THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED A GREEN PAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED PUTTING FORWARD SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
ENDS.
HADDON-CAVE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
מהירידה.
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VE WILSON
KRE FRIGENT SIR C TICKELL
5
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