THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1975
REVIEWING PROGRESS ON THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY, SIR DENYS SAID THAT MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE, AS IN ANY LARGE ORGANIZATION MANY DECISIONS TEND TO BE TAKEN AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THEIR IMPORTANCE OR DIFFICULTY.
HE NOTED THAT IN GENERAL TERMS DECISIONS TAKEN AT THE LOWEST REASONABLE LEVEL ARE +REACHED MORE QUICKLY AND LESS EXPENSIVELY+.
SIR DENYS POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE EARLY TASKS FOR THE NEWLY APPOINTED SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION WILL BE TO CONTINUE THE ASSESSMENTS OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE REFORMS INTRODUCED IN 1973 HAVE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.
HE ALSO GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PURSUE VIGOROUSLY THE TASK OF STRENGTHENING AND ADAPTING THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT TO MEET HONG KONG'S EVOLVING REQUIREMENTS,
DEALING WITH THE QUESTION OF A POPULATION POLICY, THE COLONIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT A WORKING PARTY HAS BEEN STUDYING THE QUESTION IN DETAIL AND ITS CONCLUSIONS WILL BE INCORPORATED IN A PAPER TO BE PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
HE ADDED THAT SO FAR THE APPROACH HAS BEEN TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY LIMITATION OF FAMILY SIZE RATHER THAN THE MORE COERCIVE METHODS WHICH HAVE BEEN ADOPTED ELSEWHERE, THOUGH IT MUST BE RECOGNISED THAT THERE MAY COME A TIME WHEN IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE MEASURES WHICH WILL OPERATE AS A POSITIVE DISCOURAGEMENT TO LARGE FAMILIES.+
IN CONCLUSION, SIR DENYS ASSURED COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN NO WAY DISCOURAGED BY THE SET-BACKS OF THE PAST TWO YEARS OR WEAKENED IN ITS DETERMINATION TO PROVIDE A BETTER STANDARD OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
HE ALSO PAID WARM TRIBUTE TO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WITHOUT WHOSE KNOWLEDGE, INTEGRITY AND WISE GUIDANCE, THE GOVERNMENT'S TASK OF LEADING HONG KONG SAFELY THROUGH THE MYRIAD TRIALS OF THE DAY WOULD BE FAR MORE DIFFICULT.
15