THE SIX CHANNELS OF INTERACTION
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THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON PUBLIC POLICIES AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS AN OBLIGATION TO LISTEN, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, SAID TONIGHT.
AND, HE SAID, THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX WAYS IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY, EITHER AS INDIVIDUALS, ORGANISATIONS OR GROUPS, CAN MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT.
MR. HADDON-CAVE WAS ADDRESSING A DINNER MEETING OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL.
REFERRING TO THE CHANNELS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC, HE SAID THE UMELCO OFFICE IN RECENT YEARS HAD DEVELOPED A CONSIDERABLE FACILITY FOR CONSIDERING AND COMING TO A QUITE INDEPENDENT VIEW ON REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO IT. IF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SEE MERIT IN THOSE REPRESENTATIONS, THEY FORWARD THEM TO THE GOVERNMENT WITH THEIR ENDORSEMENT.
+WITH SUCH SUPPORT. THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE THE REPRESENTATIONS VERY SERIOUSLY EVEN IF THIS INVOLVES THE GOVERNMENT CHANGING ITS MIND AS REGARDS ESTABLISHED OR PROPOSED POLICIES.+
OTHER WAYS IN WHICH COMMUNITY VIEWPOINTS REACH THE GOVERNMENT, HE CONTINUED, WERE THROUGH:
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* A NETWORK OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES SOME ORGANISED
AT DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL AND SOME CROSSING DEPARTMENTAL BOUNDARIES, BUT ALL OF WHICH FORM PART OF A SYSTEM CULMINATING IN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS=
INFORMAL CONTACTS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENTS, WHICH ARE MORE EXTENSIVE AND ON-GOING IN HONG KONG THAN IN MOST PLACES, SUCH AS THROUGH THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO CULTIVATE AND MAINTAIN FAIRLY STEADY AND SOMETIMES INTIMATE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS. IN ADDITION THERE ARE THE MEETINGS WITH AREA COMMITTEES AND DISTRICT COMMITTEES, ALL OF WHICH RESULT IN MUCH USEFUL INFORMATION AND HELPFUL CRITICISM BEING OBTAINED AND FED BACK INTO THE ADMINISTRATION-
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* DIRECT SUBMISSIONS TO THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT
OR THE SECRETARIAT, AND EVEN PETITIONING THE GOVERNOR, BY ANY INDIVIDUAL, ORGANISATION OR GROUP. SUBMISSIONS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THOUGH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED DO NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THEY ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE. SUCH SUB- MISSIONS ARE ALSO, ON APPROPRIATE OCCASIONS, FED INTO THE ADVISORY SYSTEM AND SO FORM PART OF THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES WHEN CONSIDERING WHAT ADVICE TO OFFER TO THE GOVERNMENT ON PARTICULAR ISSUES-
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