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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
+THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONS IDER ING THE ADVICE FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND FOR ACTING UPON IT. ANY DIFFERENCE IN OPINION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS UNLIKELY TO BE ONE OF INTEREST OR PRINCIPLE, BUT RATHER OF DEGREE OR PRIORITY. +
ON MR YEUNG'S IDEA OF INTRODUCING DEPUTY GOVERNORS FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE URBAN AREA, SIR JACK SAID IT WAS +INTRIGUING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING.+
+NEVERTHELESS, + HE SAID, +AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THE WHITE PAPER IS CONCERNED WITH THE DEVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES TO THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
+ITH THAT THOUGHT FIRMLY IN MIND, MY FIRST REACTION IS THAT IF WE WERE TO PROCEED AS ENVISAGED BY MR YEUNG IT WOULD WELL MEAN THAT WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES GOING INTO REVERSE FROM SINCERELY INTENDED DEVOLUTION TO A HIGH DEGREE OF CENTRAL ISATION.+
SIR JACK SAID HE APPRECIATED MR YEUNG'S WORRY AND IT WAS UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER DID WORK AND THAT HIS FEARS WERE NOT REALISED.
HE ASSURED MR YEUNG THAT HE AND THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE TAKING A DIRECT PERSONAL INTEREST IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION MATTERS.
ON MR YEUNG'S SUGGESTION TO INCLUDE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, SIR JACK SAID THE KEY ORGANISATIONS ENVISAGED IN THE WHITE PAPER WERE THE DISTRICT BOARDS WHICH WOULD EE POWERFUL BODIES, DERIVING THE IR POWER THROUGH INFLUENCE AND ACCESS, AND THE RIGHT TO BE CONSULTED.
+ IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS WILL INCLUDE OFFICIAL MEMBERS FROM THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND ANY ISSUE WILL BE THOROUGHLY DEBATED IN THE BOARD BY BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, HE SAID.
+THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IS THE EXECUTIVE ARM. IT IS THE DISTRICT BOARD'S TASK TO GIVE ADVICE, INCLUDING IF NECESSARY ADVICE ON IMPLEMENTATION LEAVING ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.+
ON MEMBERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, SIR JACK SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHARED THE CONCERN OF MR SO AND MR HU THAT ONLY THE ABLEST PERSONS SHOULD BE ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE BOARDS.
+THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK TO ENSURE THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR CANDIDATES, AS OUTLINED IN CHAPTER 5 OF THE WHITE PAPER, *ILL BE EMBODIED IN THE LAW AND BE APPLICABLE TO BOTH ELECTED AND APPOINTED MEMEERS.+
SIR JACK SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO AGREED THAT SOME FORM OF PAYMENT BY WAY OF AN ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE OUT OF POCKET THROUGH ATTENDING MEETINGS.
ON STAFF REQUIREMENTS, HE ASSURED DR HO AND MR SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAS FULLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE CF ADEQUATE STAFFING, BOTH IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY, IN ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.
/SIR JACK