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advisory councils, which will actually end in a lack of transparency in the decision-making process and "behind-the-scene operations".
The Government also mentioned that administrative efficiency could be improved and duplication of efforts reduced by bringing the responsibilities fragmented among various departments under one authority. Mr. NG Wing-fai of the Democratic Party has just given a detailed account of our proposal to set up a central licensing authority to centralize the processing of licence applications, which are now handled by different departments, so as to provide a 'one-stop' service in dealing with licensing matters. It is a pity that this proposal has also been rejected in the Consultant's Report. In consequence, the departments concerned will continue to handle licence applications in their own way without any co-ordination. As a matter of fact, the Government has been self-contradictory in its move to scrap the two Municipal Councils on the pretext of bringing the fragmented responsibilities under one authority to improve efficiency.
Lastly, the Democratic Party has always held that streamlining of organization and staff should be our aim in the setting up of the new structure. Such an objective has also been set forth by the Government in the Review of District Organizations. Nevertheless, the new structure proposed in the Consultant's Report has completely failed to achieve that objective as, comparing with the establishment of the two Municipal Councils, the number of directorate posts in the new structure will be reduced by only 25, whilst the number of environmental hygiene staff will be reduced by merely some one hundred. As the establishment of the future set-up for arts, culture, sports and leisure services has not been taken into account, the total number of staff of the two new structures will be increased instead of reduced. Hence, the ultimate aim of streamlining structure and reducing manpower set forth by the Government during the consultation on the Review of District Organizations cannot be achieved at the end of the day, and the new structure could be even more over-grown.
To sum up, the Review of District Organizations conducted by the SAR Government was indeed a "sham". At first, the Government induced the public and District Board members to support the dissolution of the two Municipal Councils under the pretext of streamlining structure, strengthening public participation in community affairs, improving efficiency and enhancing the role of District Boards. However, details of the responsibilities for food safety and the future role of District Boards had never been given during the consultation period. The Government gradually unveiled its detailed plans only when the consultation period was over and it was then too late for the people to voice their objections. By now the Government has taken off its veil used to hide its real intention and exposed the hideous look of totalitarianism. All these, together with the curtailing of the power of the Legislative Council on the basis of the Basic Law earlier on, the dissolution of the then elected Legislative Council after the handover and the formation of the Provisional
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