?
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1983
+THE GOVERNMENT OWES IT TO THE PUBLIC TO LOOK CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY AT PROPOSALS IN PRIVATE BEFORE THEY ARE PUBLISHED,+ MR BRAY SAID.
HE ADDED THAT PREMATURE DISCLOSURE WOULD BE EMBARRASSING IF THERE WAS A NEED TO CONSULT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE: AND A PRIVATE WORKING PAPER, IF DISCLOSED TOO SOON, MIGHT RAISE FALSE HOPES OR IN SOME CASES" UNREASONABLY AFFECT FREE MARKETS.
HOWEVER, MR BRAY SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECORD OF EXPOSING ITS WORKINGS WAS GOOD.
IN ADDITION TO ISSUING PRESS STATEMENTS, IT STANDS READY TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE MORE TRICKY ONES WHICH SEEK COMMENTS ON SOME STORY ABOUT WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO ANNOUNCEMENT.
*THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES IN SUCH SITUATIONS. FIRST WE MUST NOT TELL LIES. IF A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE THE MATTER IS NO LONGER 'UNDER CONSIDERATION'. SO DECISIONS ARE VERY OFTEN ANNOUNCED IMMEDIATELY – ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS KNOWN THAT SOME SUBJECT HAS COME TO THE POINT OF DECISION.
+WE TRY TO AVOID THE PHRASE 'NO COMMENT EVEN WHEN WE HAVE VERY LITTLE TO SAY. ABOVE ALL WE TRY TO GET AN ANSWER. IF A TOPIC IS NOT READY FOR ANNOUNCEMENT THEN WE SAY SO. THIS IS THE SORT OF SITUATION THAT DEVELOPS WHEN A SUBJECT IS BEING DISCUSSED AMONG OFFICIALS OR IN COMMITTEES. THE DISCUSSION IS INCOMPLETE. DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF THE STATE OF DISCUSSION ARE NOT ALWAYS HELPFUL ESPECIALLY WHEN SOME IMPORTANT DATA IS AWAITED OR VIEW OF SOME INTERESTED BODY IS BEING FORMED, HE EXPLAINED.
MR BRAY FURTHER STRESSED THAT PROPOGANDA WAS IMPOSSIBLE WITH A FREE PRESS - EDITORS DO NOT HAVE TO PRINT GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS AT ALL AND THEY CAN GO BEHIND THEM AND CHECK UP ON SUSPICIOUS STORIES.
THIS IS ALSO THE CASE OF RTHK, WHICH HAS TO COMPETE FOR ATTENTION WITH THE NEWSPAPERS, THE TV STATIONS AND COMMERCIAL RADIO.
+ IF IT WERE USED AS A CRUDE PROPAGANDA INSTRUMENT IT WOULD LOSE CREDIBILITY AND WOULD BECOME SUCH A BORE THAT AUDIENCES WOULD SWITCH AWAY AND NOBODY WOULD BE LISTENING TO THE PROPAGANDA, HE SAID.
18