Public libraries in the New Territories will open seven days a week, in line with arrangements for libraries in urban areas.
Speaking at the first Summit on District Administration yesterday, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen announced the longer opening hours for 33 public libraries in the coming year.
Opening hours will be extended from about 61 or 62 hours a week to about 70 hours a week, the chief executive said. At present the libraries open six days a week.
A Tung Chung resident called into an RTHK news programme to say she was excited by the move and was looking forward to the extended opening hours. She said people might not be able to get to a library after work during the week.
The government will also encourage more schools to make their facilities, including sports facilities and halls, available to the community.
During yesterday's meeting, which was attended by hundreds of district councillors and district organisations, Mr Tsang spoke about a new role for district officers, referring to them as government representatives at the district level.
'I would like to stress that district officers nowadays represent the chief executive at the district level,' he said,