2.16
VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE OBTAINED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVE BODIES THROUGH ATTENDANCE AT SEMINARS, DISTRICT DICSUSSION GROUPS AND INFORMAL MEETINGS OR
MEET-THE-PUBLIC SESSIONS. THESE ACTIVITIES, ORGANIZED BY
DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ON DIFFERENT SCALES OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF BRINGING
TOGETHER THE RANGE OF VIEWS EXPRESSED.
2.17
PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON THE WHITE PAPER WERE MADE BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND THE EIGHTEEN DISTRICT BOARDS. THE FULL TEXTS OF STATEMENTS AND DEBATES AND NOTES OF
DISCUSSIONS AT DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR
PUBLIC REFERENCE. A SUMMARY OF THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE
APP V COUNCIL IS AT APPENDIX V.
(C) ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER GROUPS
APP
VI
APP
VII
2.18 THERE IS A NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS
THROUGHOUT EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY IN HONG KONG. ALTHOUGH
THEY DIFFER IN MEMBERSHIP AND INFLUENCE, TOGETHER, THEY COVER
VIRTUALLY EVERY SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY. MOST INFLUENTIAL
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EITHER WRITTEN TO THE OFFICE, OR HAVE MADE STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA. THEY INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL BODIES, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, CIVIL SERVICE, FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS, RELIGIOUS GROUPS, PRESSURE GROUPS, COMMUNITY
AND TRADTIONAL BODIES, TRADE UNIONS, ASSOCIATIONS OF
RESIDENTS AND WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS.
2.19 679 ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS PRESENTED THEIR VIEWS
IN WRITING TO THE OFFICE. OF THIS NUMBER 430 WERE FROM
PROPERLY CONSTITUTED ORGANIZATIONS WRITING IN TO EXPRESS THE
VIEWS OF THE MEMBERS THEY REPRESENT: 249 WERE FROM GROUPS OF
INDIVIDUALS WHOSE VIEWS HAD BEEN COLLECTED TOGETHER BY, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE MANAGEMENT OF A FIRM, THE HEAD OF A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, THE HEADMISTRESS OF A SCHOOL, THE STAFF OF A
VOLUNTARY AGENCY AND SENT IN AS A BATCH TO THE OFFICE. IN
SOME CASES, GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE SAME AREA OR WITH
A COMMON BACKGROUND USED QUESTIONNAIRES OR STENCILLED
LETTERS. ALL THESE WERE TREATED AS SINGLE GROUP SUBMISSIONS.
2.20 MANY ORGANIZATIONS TOOK GREAT CARE IN OBTAINING THE
VIEWS OF THEIR MEMBERS AND IN PREPARING CAREFULLY WORDED
STATEMENTS. A LIST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE NOT
OBJECTED TO THEIR NAMES BEING PUBLISHED IS AT APPENDIX VI.
SEPARATELY, COPIES OF THE SUBMISSIONS FROM ORGANIZATIONS
WHICH HAVE AGREED TO THEIR PUBLICATION ARE AVAILABLE FOR
PUBLIC REFERENCE. AN EXPLANATORY NOTE ON TRADE UNIONS, THE
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY AND TRADITIONAL BODIES IN HONG KONG IS AT
APPENDIX VII.
(D) LETTERS FROM INDIVIDUALS
SECRET-13-
12.21