REPRESENTATIONS FROM PUBLIC GROUPS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
19. UMELCO HAS FOR THE 1985 SESSION FORMED 21 PANELS, WHICH MEETS REGULARLY WITH SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO COVER PROGRAMME AREAS, SUCH AS EDUCATION, MANPOWER, HEALTH, WELFARE, THE CIVIL SERVICE HOUSING, TRADE, INDUSTRY, TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.
20. THE NEW STYLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND INCREASING PUBLIC INTEREST
N ITS ACTIVITES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED ITS WORKLOAD AND THE
TIME DEMANDED OF MEMBERS. THE EMOLUMENTS PROVIDED FOR UNOFFICIALS
MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE TO BE MEMBERS, AND COMMIT
THEMSELVES VIRTUALLY FULL-TIME.
21. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS A VERY BUSY AGENDA. IN ITS CURRENT SESSION, IT WILL PASS 6 OR 8 MAJOR BILLS ON MATTERS OF GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST, INCLUDING THE BUDGET, AND OVER 70 MINOR BILLS, MOSTLY AMENDMENTS DESIGNED TO KEEP HONG KONG'S LEGISLATION UP TO DATE. ALL ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS ARE EXAMINED IN COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND AN THE UMELCO PANELS AND (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) AD HOC GROUPS. THE MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY CONSTITUTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE TACKLED THIS WORK IN A SERIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FORMULATION AND EXECUTION OF POLICY REMAINS FIRMLY WITH THE EXECUTIVE. BUT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S TASK IS TO ENSURE THAT THESE POLICIES ARE ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED AND JUSTIFIED IN A PUBLIC FORUM, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE MAY BE SATISFIED THAT THERE IS A CLEAR JUSTIFICATION FOR LAWS AND POLICIES WHICH AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES.
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
22. THE WIDE NETWORK OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER MANY YEARS AS PART OF THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC CONSULT- ATION BY WHICH GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO OBTAIN, THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH INTERESTED GROUPS, THE BEST ADVICE ON WHICH TO BASE DECISIONS. THEY CAN BE STATUTORY OR NON-STATUTORY, ADVISORY OR EXECUTIVE IN
FORM.
23. PRINCIPAL BODIES INCLUDE THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: THE HOUSING AUTHORITY: THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION. THEIR MEMBERSHIP IS CAREFULLY SELECTED TO REFLECT SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. IN RECENT YEARS, THE PROPORTION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO APPOINTED TO THEM HAS BEEN STEADILY