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GOVERNOR CALLS FOR WIDER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY SAID HE WAS CONVINCED THAT MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE OPENLY DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SO THAT GENUINE DIFFERENCES COULD BE CLEARLY STATED AND CONSIDERED BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE.
HE NOTED THAT, DUE TO HONG KONG'S SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TRADITIONAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT HERE HAD BEEN ONE OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSENSUS AND HE EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
IN THIS REGARD, HE PERSONALLY GAVE STRONG SUPPORT TO THE NEW AND GROWING NUMBER OF BODIES SUCH AS THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES CATERING FOR THIS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOODS.
THESE WERE DOING A GREAT DEAL OF PRACTICAL GOOD, HE SAID. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN, NOT PREVIOUSLY IN MUCH CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNMENT MACHINE OR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, TO PLAY A PART AND GAIN EXPERIENCE WHICH WOULD ENABLE THEM TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO ADVISORY AND OTHER COMMITTEES AND BODIES OF GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.
GIVEN TIME, THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE WILL, HE ADDED, THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR CHANGE WHILE RETAINING THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTER OF THIS COUNCIL, AND SUBJECT OF COURSE TO THE OVERRIDING REQUIRMENT OF MEMBERS HAVING SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND ABILITY, TO CARRY A FAIR SHARE OF THE EXACTING TASKS THAT HAVE TO BE SHOULDERED BY UMELCO.+
IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR SAID, THE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTED TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC VIEWS IN MANY WAYS THROUGH REPRESENTATIONS TO UMELCO, THE WIDE USE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES, GREEN PAPERS, THE PERCEPTION OF CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND THEIR EVER WIDENING CONTACTS WITH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, AREA COMMITTEES AND KAIFONGS.
THE PRESS AND THE MEDIA ALSO PLAYED A VITAL ROLE, AND EN SOME CASES BILLS WERE DELIBERATELY PUBLISHED EARLY OR THEIR DISCUSSION DELAYED IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE FULLER PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
SIR MURRAY PAID WARM TRIBUTE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH THE MANNER IT CARRIED OUT ITS DIFFICULT TASK AND EXPRESSED PARTICULAR SATISFACTION WITH THE WAY PUBLIC OR INTERESTED OPINION MADE ITSELF FELT THROUGH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO HAD EFFECTED MANY AMENDMENTS TO CONTROVERSIAL DRAFT LEGISLATION AND SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED THEM.
+LACKING, AS IS UNAVOIDABLE, ANY ELECTORAL MANDATE, MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO THINK AND PLAN AND SPEAK FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AS THEY SEE IT, AND NOT, AS WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER, FOR THE NARROW INTERESTS OF A PARTY, A GROUP, A PROFESSION, AN AREA OR A CLASS.
+BUT I BELIEVE IT ASSISTS THIS GENERAL REQUIREMENT IF MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO SPEAK FROM AS WIDE A SPREAD AS POSSIBLE NOT ONLY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO OF SOCIAL BACKGROUND.
+THIS IS A SITUATION WHICH LIKE HONG KONG ITSELF, HAS. EVOLVED AND IS EVOLVING AND CAN EVOLVE FURTHER,+ HE SAID.
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