CONFIDENTIAL
CHAPTER 4
THE EXTERNAL FACTOR : PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
機密
4.1
Maximum Openness
One safeguard against malpractice is maximum openness by Government in explaining its policies and decisions to the public. However, as the public become more aware of their rights, they act as a further counter- check to the performance of civil servants. As a factor affecting the practice of accountability within the civil service, the concept of open government, or public accountability, cannot be underestimated.
4.2 Publicity by Government Departments
Since 1967 there has been an increasing effort in Government towards educating the public concerning the services that are available to them. Some departments have gone to great lengths to prepare pamphlets which describe services available, procedures, entitlements of the public, etc. These pamphlets are available within the departments at Public Enquiry Counters and are distributed through other outlets such as City District Offices. It is important, however, that such pamphlets are kept up-to- date and are written in the simplest form possible to put across the message or information. In the course of some Corruption Prevention Department assignments, there have been instances where pamphlets have been found to be out of date, scarce, or unnecessarily complicated.
4.3 There has also been an increasing trend in Government departments to provide
public enquiry desks and form-filling services. This process is strengthened by publicity directed at the public advising them where to go in order to avail themselves of the services they require. Some, if not all, Heads of Departments are considering, either in conjunction with the Corruption Prevention Department or independently, whether the time taken to make decisions can be reduced or whether various steps which have to be taken by the public in obtaining decisions, are necessary. One positive feature is the increasing use of name plates in Chinese and English on the desks of officers interviewing members of the public or the wearing of name tags or serial numbers. These help the public to identify the officers that they deal with and, as an aspect of public accountability, this practice is most useful.
4.4
A further trend towards more open Government is the increasing use of balloting in public, the publication of waiting times, eligibility, criteria, etc. to show that a particular administrative process is as openly conducted as possible. As a means of overcoming public ignorance, suspicion and speculation, this trend is most welcome. Also welcome is the increasing use by departments of the media, particularly television, to explain the role of departments providing services or exercising controls of particular interest to the public. The media, for its part, is constantly prompting Government to explain its policies or give its views, particularly on contentious issues. Finally, to assist in identifi- cation of possible problem areas with the public, Heads of Departments are making increasing use of Advisory Committees/Boards and are consulting with interested groups.
CONFIDENTIAL #
/Departmental