- 5
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978
CALL FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES ******
+
THE SENSE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE FORMULATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES SHOULD GO FURTHER. TO INCLUDE ALSO A SENSE OF PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING FOR THE IR EXECUTION, DR. THE HON. RAYSON HUANG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AT PRESENT, THE GOVERNMENT TAKES THE LEAD IN LAUNCHING A PROPOSAL, SUCH AS A GREEN PAPER EXPLORING POLICY FORMULATION, AND AFTER TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS INTO CONSIDERATION IT ISSUES THE FINAL DIRECTIVES IMPLEMENTING AGREED PROGRAMMES.
+BUT GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE FULL AND REGULAR CONSULTATION IN BETWEEN, SO THAT THE DETAILS OF PLANNING AND THE METHODS OF IMPLEMENTATION CAN BE UNDERSTOOD.
+ IT SHOULD ALSO USE ITS ADVISORY BODIES COMPREHENSIVELY RATHER THAN SELECTIVELY, SINCE THE IR TRUE ROLE IS CONSULTATIVE TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT, RATHER THAN THAT OF WATCHDOG, TO QUESTION DECISIONS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN MADE, HE SAID.
DR. HUANG NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIVENESS TO PUBLIC NEED AND PUBLIC OPINION HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY MATCHED BY A PUBLIC RESPONSIVENESS IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE LIVELY DEBATES AND EXPRESSIONS OF VIEWS BY THE PUBLIC ON VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.
IN THIS REGARD, HE SAID, THE GREEN PAPERS HAVE BY AND LARGE SUCCEEDED IN THE IR OBJECTIVES AND IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT ARE HEEDED AND MANY ARE TAKEN UP, ONE VERY GOOD AND TIMELY EXAMPLE BEING THE WHITE PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION WHICH HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED.
DR. HUANG POINTED OUT THAT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON THE EFFORTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS MEANS THAT THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THAT OF THE OFFICIALS AND THEIR STAFF WHO SERVE ITS AIMS WILL BE LARGER.
BESIDES, THE INTENTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE OFTEN MEASURED AT MORE THAN ONE LEVEL - FROM THE ATTITUDES OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN FORMULATING POLICIES AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THESE ARE TO BE PUT
INTO EFFECT, THROUGH TO OFFICIAL IMPLEMENTATION AT THE GRASS-ROOT LEVEL WHERE CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE IS MADE.
IN VIEW OF THIS, HE SAID, EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO ACHIEVE GREATER RAPPORT WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH CORRESPONDING CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATIVE STYLE.
/SOLE CHANGE.....