WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976
GOVERNOR WELCOMES NEW LEGCO MEMBERS
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVELY DEBATES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MATTERS OF POLICY WHERE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEMBERS OR BETWEEN THEM AND THE GOVERNMENT.
WELCOMING THE EIGHT NEW UNOFFICIAL AND FIVE OFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL, HE SAID IT WAS THE COUNCIL'S TRADITION THAT EACH MEMBER SPOKE FOR NO PARTICULAR GROUP OR SECTION BUT IN THE INTEREST OF ALL HONG KONG AS IT APPEARED IN HIS OR HER PERSONAL JUDGEMENT.
+THIS IS A GOOD TRADITION, BUT ONLY IF IT IS BALANCED, AS IS NOW MORE THE CASE, BY MEMBERSHIP DRAWN FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND PERSONAL BACKGROUND, + SIR MURRAY SAID,
HE TOLD THE NEWLY-APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS THAT THEY HAD BECOME PART OF THE BODY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND COULD GREATLY ASSIST IN MAKING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AS ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE.
+ IN THIS UNELECTED GOVERNMENT THE FUNCTIONS OF UMELCO OUTSIDE THE FORMAL WORK OF THE TWO COUNCILS ARE VITAL, HE SAID.
+MUCH GOOD WORK IN THIS RESPECT IS DONE BY THE WARD OFFICES OF THE URBAN COUNCILLORS, AND BY INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID. BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UMELCO IN ITS FUNCTION OF REDRESSOR OF GRIEVANCES AND STIMULANT AND CHECK ON THE ADMINISTRATION CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.+
LOOKING BACK AT THE GOVERNMENT'S REVIEW IN 1972 AND 73 OF WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE THE PRINCIPAL DEFECTS IN OUR SOCIETY WITHIN A TIME-SCALE OF ABOUT 10 YEARS, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT +TO TACKLE AND MASTER ALL THE MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WE REALISED REQUIRED MORE REVENUE, THE OVERHAUL OF THE ADMINISTRATION, BOLD PLANNING, AND A RADICAL NEW DEGREE OF CONTACT AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNED+.
+WITH THE SUPPORT OF HON. MEMBERS AND OF THE PUBLIC YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS PERSISTED WITH THESE OBJECTIVES IN SPITE OF THE TRAUMATIC AND WHOLLY UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCE OF THE RECESSION.
+FROM THIS EXPERIENCE HONG KONG HAS NOW EMERGED AND, AS IT WERE, CHANGED GEAR. THEREFORE PROPOSE TO REVIEW WHAT OUR ECONOMIC POSSIBILITIES ARE IN THE PERIOD OF RENEWED GROWTH INTO WHICH WE HAVE MOVED, AND HOW THIS CAN BEST BE USED TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY. IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS AND ATTAIN OUR SOCIAL TARGETS,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID.
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