Friday, June 8, 1973
GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC
Mr. Augustine Chui Kan, a former Assistant Director of Urban
Services, has been appointed to a newly created post of Principal Assistant
Colonial Secretary (Public Affairs) and will head a small research department
to assist the Secretary for Home Affairs.
In this job he will be co-ordinating the work of collecting and
assessing public opinion for consideration by the government in its decision-
making process.
Speaking about his new appointment today, Mr. Chui stressed that
the main objective of his work would be to plan and establish regular machinery
through which can be obtained a pattern of public opinion at all levels of the
community.
Emphasis, however, will be placed on seeking the opinions of those
people at the grass roots level, particularly groups which are not normally
articulate, he said.
The feelings and thoughts of young people will also be one of the
main aspects he will be looking into.
Mr. Chui explained that, the first phase of the work will involve
consultations with government departments and various commnity organisations
to determine the best methods of getting an accurate and realistic assessment
of public reaction to government policies.
This should lead to a strengthening of existing channels of contact
with the public and the creation of new sourges of information.
There