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Thursday, November 30, 1972
PUBLIC OPINION BEING SOUGHT ON DRAFT WHITE PAPER
For the first time in Hong Kong, public opinion is now being
sought before the publication of government policy in a White Paper.
Government departments are now collecting and collating opinion
from all sectors of the community on a draft White Paper, or "Green Paper",
on social welfare.
The Secretariat for Home Affairs and the Social Welfare Department
are working together to obtain as wide a coverage as possible for the Green
Paper The Way Ahead.
It is the first time the Government has used this procedure
although it is common practice in the United Kingdom.
The S.H.A. has in the past month sent out more than 3,500 copies
of the paper in Chinese and English, together with comprehensive questionaires.
Targets were churches, kaifong associations, rural committees and 'the man in
the street' through the City District Offices.
Copies of these forms are being returned to both the S.H.A. and
S.W.D. In addition the S.W.D. is obtaining similar results through a
programme aimed at welfare agencies, schools and universities.
It is hoped the full results will be in by mid-December when they
will be used in the drafting of the final version of the White Paper.
A spokesman for the S.H.A. said that so far the response had been
satisfactory.
/He said