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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1977
MR. DAVIES NOTED THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ASSOCIATION WOULD DEPEND UPON THE SUPPORT BY THE RANK AND FILE AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH MEMBERS HAVING JOINED, EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND TO PLAY A PART IN ITS MANAGEMENT.
THREE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AND THE HON. WONG LAM SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
IN HIS SPEECH, FATHER MCGOVERN APPEALED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PROPOSED ASSOCIATION TO START OUT POSITIVELY.
+ IT IS EASY TO BE AGAINST THINGS -- AGAINST THE ICAC, AGAINST AUTHORITY, AGAINST EVEN THE BLACK LOOKS OF THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID. +IT IS MUCH HARDER TO BUILD UP, HARDER TO BE POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE,+
HE HOPED THAT THROUGH THE HELP OF THE ASSOCIATION, EACH MEMBER OF THE RANK AND FILE WILL GET BACK +HIS LEGITIMATE CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF, IN THE FORCE HE SERVES AND IN THE PUBLIC HE SERVES.+
HE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF WHEN HE KNOWS HE IS DOING A COMPETENT AND PROFESSIONAL JOB AND NO ONE ELSE CAN DO THIS FOR HIM ALTHOUGH THE ASSOCIATION BY ITS SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT CAN HELP HIM.
IF THE ASSOCIATION CAN ACHIEVE THIS FOR ITS MEMBERS, IT WILL NOT BE LONG UNTIL THE PUBLIC WILL RESPOND AND SHOW APPRECIATION OF A WELL DONE JOB AND RESPECT FOR THE MAN WHO IS DOING IT, FATHER MCGOVERN SAID.
HE OFFERED SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION DRAFTERS, POINTING OUT THAT 90 PER CENT OF THE CAUSES OF FAILURE OF STAFF ASSOCIATIONS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO FAILURE OF DEMOCRACY WITHIN THEM.
DEMOCRACY MUST BE SAFEGUARDED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF AN ASSOCIATION BY CLEAR AND STRINGENT RULES CONCERNING SECRET BALLOTS, HE SAID.
ALL ASSOCIATIONS HAVE A SECRET BALLOT FOR THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. THERE SHOULD BE SUCH A BALLOT ALSO FOR ANY QUESTION CONCERNING NAMED PERSONS, EVEN AT COMMITTEE LEVEL, AS WELL AS FOR VOTES CONCERNING MAJOR MATTERS OF POLICY, HE SUGGESTED.
+OTHERWISE THE 'FACE OF INDIVIDUALS WILL PREVAIL OVER THE GOOD OF THE ASSOCIATION.+
WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRACY, AN ASSOCIATION MUST TAKE ALL POSSIBLE STEPS TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN ITS WORK. THE MINIMUM FOR ALL MEMBERS IS THAT THEY TAKE THE TROUBLE TO EXERCISE THE IR RIGHT TO VOTE. OTHERWISE A SMALL GROUP CAN TAKE OVER CONTROL OF AN ASSOCIATION,+
/THIS SILENT