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FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1982
GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE COMMUNICATION
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COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE IS
IMPORTANT PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG WHERE THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT IS BASICALLY BY CONSENSUS AND CONSULTATION, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MAYER NG SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG CENTRAL MR NG SAID GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WERE SOMETIMES ACCUSED OF IGNORING PUBLIC OPINION BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY KNEW BETTER.
+1 WOULD NOT SAY THAT THERE IS NOT ANY SUCH PEOPLE IN AN ORGANISATION AS BIG AS THE GOVERNMENT, BUT ONLY FOOLS CAN AFFORD TO IGNORE PUBLIC OPINION WHEN AT LAST IT DOES EXPRESS ITSELF. IN MOST CASES, WHAT IS IGNORED THEREFORE IS PERHAPS AN OPINION PRESENTED IN PUBLIC WHICH IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH PUBLIC OPINION, DELIBERATELY OR INADVERTENTLY BY SOME PEOPLE, HE SAID.
MR NG LISTED 14 CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC. THEY ARE 1
*
ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS;
INFORMAL CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS THROUGH LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICES:
PETITIONS BY INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANISATIONS TO OFFICIALS OR THE IR OFFICES:
* PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
* COMMISSIONS OF ENQUIRY:
*
UMELCO;
* DISTRICT BOARDS;
* DIRECT CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS;
* LETTERS TO THE EDITORS;
* RADIO PHONE-IN PROGRAMMES }
;
* PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMES ON TV AND RADIO:
* GREEN PAPERS ON PUBLIC POLICY I
INTEREST GROUPS: AND
* SCIENTIFICALLY ORGANISED PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS.
IN ADDITION TO THESE OPEN CHANNELS, SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO MADE IT A POINT TO MEET PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE REGULARLY AND BETWEEN THEM AND OVER THE YEARS, THEY MUST HAVE SPOKEN TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN AN INFORMAL AND COMPLETELY FRANK ATMOSPHERE, MR NG SAID.
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