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it is fair to say that their quality has also improved considerably. The Unofficials have scrutinized the bills in greater depth and have proposed changes more frequently. A good case in point is the Securities Bill 1973, in which over 120 amendments, were made as a result of representations by the Unofficials.
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Apart from the work directly related to this Council, the Unofficials are also actively involved in many areas of public' service outside this Council such as education, medical, social welfare, trade and industry, auxiliary services, etc. Chapter 4 of the Fourth Annual Report of the Umelco Office readily shows the heavy burden of public services shouldered by the Unofficials. Many of my Unofficial Colleagues devote more than half their time in performing their public duties, but even then we do not feel we are doing enough, In recent discussions amongst the Unofficials it was realised that we need more support from the Umelco Office.
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This will mean more staff to help the Unofficials to obtain information, make investigations and carry out research.
Hong Kong is small, both in population and land area, but the Government and community have achieved a 'high degree of sophistication and complexity, even by world standards. Recognising this development, the Government has employed management consultants "over the past few years to re- structure the Government machinery, with a view, to improving its efficiency and effectiveness. I think it is also appropriate for the Unofficials to review their role and part in this Council, Despite increasing activities and more time given by the Unofficial's to their Council work- in recent years, there are still adverse comments from
¡ various quarters of the public that the Unofficials are
not doing enough to prod Government and control public. expenditure.
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