FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1977
SHA OPENS GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE
THE OPENING OF THE A SIGNIFICANT EVENT FOR HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY SAID TODAY.
*****
NEW GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IS THE PROCESS OF OPEN GOVERNMENT IN
FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY,
SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE CENTRE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE, HE SAID: +NEWSPAPERS HAVE A USEFUL PART TO PLAY BUT THEY ARE PRESSED FOR SPACE AND CAN NEVER DEAL FULLY WITH ANY ASPECT OF ADMINISTRATION.+
MR. BRAY SAID AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN PRODUCING POLICIES WHICH COMMANDED PUBLIC SUPPORT WAS THE WILLINGNESS OF THE PUBLIC TO PUT IN TIME ON READING.
IN
▬▬
+THE OBJECT OF THIS FINE NEW BOOKSHOP IS TO TEMPT YOU
TO OFFER OUR THOUGHTS, PROBLEMS, CONCLUSIONS AND REPORTS,+ HE EMPHASISED.
HE ADDED: IF IT LEADS TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENT OR IF IT LEADS TO MORE PURPOSEFUL CRITICISM OF WHAT WE ARE DOING OR ARE FAILING TO DO IT WILL HAVE MADE A USEFUL CONTRIBUTION TO OPEN GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.+
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF MR. BRAY'S SPEECH:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
+ THE OPENING OF THIS CENTRE IS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT FOR THE PROCESS OF OPEN GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. OPEN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT MEAN EASY GOVERNMENT.
+NEWSPAPERS HAVE A USEFUL PART TO PLAY BUT THEY ARE PRESSED FOR SPACE AND CAN NEVER DEAL FULLY WTITH ANY ASPECT OF ADMINISTRATION. NOBODY WOULD EXPECT YOU TO BE ABLE TO RUN A BUSINESS ON THE BASIS OF READING NEWSPAPER REPORT OF ITS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING YET IT IS ASTONISHING HOW MANY PEOPLE APPEAR TO BE OFFERING THEMSELVES TO RUN A GOVERNMENT ON THE BASIS OF A NEWSPAPER REPORT OF A SPEECH.
+GOVERNMENT POLICIES CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY CASUAL READING. A GREAT MANY INTELLIGENT AND INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE SPEND A GOOD DEAL OF TIME THINKING, ARGUING AND WRITING BEFORE WE PRODUCE ANYTHING THAT COULD CLAIM TO BE A POLICY. THE OUTPUT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY. THERE IS NO CHILD'S GUIDE TO HAPPINESS FOR ALL. COMPETING CLAIMS HAVE TO BE BALANCED AND THERE IS OFTEN NO PUBLIC CONSENSUS ON WHAT IS DESIRABLE.
+AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN PRODUCING POLICIES WHICH COMMAND PUBLIC SUPPORT IS THE WILLINGNESS OF THE PUBLIC TO PUT IN TIME ON READING.
+ THE OBJECT