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Wednesday, October 6, 1971
If no extensive study of any kind had yet been carried out, he would suggest that consideration be given to the setting up of a special committee to probe into the Government machinery in depth with a view to recommending changes likely to result in a more efficient operation, Mr. Lee said.
This committee should comprise mainly experienced officers who
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were either working or had previously worked in the Secretariat, he added.
Commenting on the Public Assistance Scheme, Mr. Lee said the level of assistance was really low in relation to the cost of living and somewhat out of proportion to the expenditure involved in administering the scheme.
He said he was glad that the need for an upward revision of the scales of assistance was being studied and that a decision would be reached on this shortly.
Positive Support
On the suggestion that Government should give more positive support for the promotion of sports, Mr. Lee said consideration should be given to the setting up of an advisory body similar in nature to the Social Welfare Advisory Committee for the purpose of advising the Government on policy, administration and subvention for sports activities.
He also suggested that as an immediate step, consideration should be given to the possibility of giving tax exemption to moneys donated to sports associations with creditable achievements as well as that expended by employers for the purpose of providing sports activities for their employees.
"In the past, Government has too often been looked upon as the party responsible for providing almost everything that the community needs.
"This is not a healthy attitude and I believe that in certain fields, of which sports is one of them, there is full justification for a partnership between the Government and the interested bodies."
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Wednesday, October 6, 1971
In these older estates, he said, there was primarily a problem of
congestion and it was obvious that a room allocated to a couple with two
small children in 1959 was hopelessly inadequate in 1971 after the family
had increased from four to 11.
"It seems that we quickly need plans for the decantation of overcrowded
families, which is in line with what you have said, Sir, of paying more
attention to individual rather than mass needs."
There was also the problem of the management of Estates by the
Resettlement Department at all levels.
Team Of Professionals
For ofile
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AG
Mr. Salmon said it seemed to him that the Housing Authority's
Commissioner for Housing who manages Low Cost Housing Estates, was sensibly
provided with a team of professionals in the form of Architects, Structural
and Building Service's Engineers, and Housing Managers but the Commissioner
for Resettlement, with a far bigger task, was nowhere near so fortunate.
"His ground staff, who doubtless do a good job in very difficult
circumstances, are surely too thin on the ground to manage effectively what
are in effect big townships with problems not only of congestion and hawkers
as I have mentioned, but lighting, cleanliness, sanitation, and many others."
Commenting on the Honourable Q.W. Lee's reference to delays in the
Colonial Secretariat and other Government departments, Mr. Salmon said he did
not wish to appear critical of the Colonial Secretary and the Financial
Secretary, as both had his full admiration and both were known of being
fully capable of moving fast.
16.10.71
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Wednesday, October 6, 1971
"But I wonder whether they do not have far too much on their respective
plates, whether too many policy matters have to go to these two officers and
whether their heavy work load could not somehow be spread wider afield."
Mr. Salmon suggested that directly under the Colonial Secretary and
the Financial Secretary there might be what in the United Kingdom were known
as "Overlords", as many as were necessary to cover the entire range of
Government policies and departments.
The Colonial Secretary would, of course, retain ultimate responsibility
and he together with the Financial Secretary, Attorney General and Secretary
for Home Affairs would continue to be members of the Executive Council.
Involve No Changes
His suggestion would not involve changes in the constitution of the
Colony, but Mr. Salmon thought, there should be a substantial change in the
pe of the Secretariat which, because of the constitutional position,
requires the Colonial Secretary and the Financial Secretary to satisfy themselves
personally on all matters coming before the Executive Council and the Finance
Committee.
He said the "Overlords" should be fully capable of taking responsibility
for decisions and recommendations within their own spheres and they, in practice,
would prepare papers for the Executive Council and the Finance Committee
and would attend before those bodies to answer questions.
"I am speaking now, Sir, of a real devolution of responsibilities
from the top downwards, in such degree as to break down substantially the present single or rather double pyramidical structure of the Secretariat and
to substitute for it as many pyramids as necessary."
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