SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 1983
OPEN GOVERNMENT PREVAILS IN HONG KONG
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AN OPEN GOVERNMENT MEANS MUCH MORE THAN THE SIMPLE HOLDING OF ELECTIONS, AND IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO DEVISE A SYSTEM WHICH WILL WORK IN HONG KONG AND WHICH WILL COMMAND THE RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.
HE ALSO STRESSED THAT IF HONG KONG WERE TO MAINTAIN ITS POSITION IN THE WORLD OF TODAY IT MUST ENSURE THAT ADVICE IS READILY AND DIRECTLY AVAILABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT FROM EXPERIENCED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE MEN IN SUCH FIELDS AS INDUSTRY, COMMERCE; INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, SHIPPING AND CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS OTHER FORMS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY.
SPEAKING ON +OPEN GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG+ AT THE HONG KONG WEEK SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG STUDENTS, HE SAID: THUS THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF OUR SENIOR COUNCILS MUST REFLECT THESE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
*THE NAMES OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS ARE KNOWN, THEY ARE IN TOUCH WITH A WIDER PUBLIC, THEY ARE OPEN TO DISCUSSION, THEY, TOO, ARE PART OF THE PROCESS OF OPEN GOVERNMENT.+
AT A MORE GENERAL LEVEL, MR AKERS-JONES SAID, ANOTHER LAYER WAS ADDED LAST YEAR TO THE METHODS OF CONSULTATION BY THE CREATION OF PARTLY ELECTED DISTRICT BOARDS.
ALL HONG KONG BELONGERS OVER THE AGE OF 21 HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AT DB AND URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 900 000 PEOPLE ON THE REGISTER OF VOTERS.
+THE NEXT DB ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE IN 1985 AND BEFORE THEN THE REGISTER OF VOTERS WILL BE REVISED, HE SAID.
+THE BOARDS CAN ADVISE ON ANY MATTER THEY BELIEVE IS AFFECTING THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE.
+RECENTLY THEY HAVE BEEN CONSULTED DIRECTLY ON FAR-REACHING QUESTIONS OF EDUCATION POLICY BECAUSE THIS WAS A MATTER WHICH AFFECTS THE WELL-BEING OF US ALL AND HAS A DIRECT RELEVANCE TO OUR DAILY LIVES AND THE INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG.
+ALREADY THE BOARDS ARE MAKING A DISTINCT AND DIFFERENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE OPEN GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG.
MR AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT THE HONG KONG STYLE OF GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MOULDED AND CONDITIONED BY TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SAIDI + BELIEVE IT HAS SHOWN A CAPACITY TO ADAPT ITSELF TO CHANGE, TO DEVELOP ITS OWN SYSTEMS OF OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE, TO RESPOND TO THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE WHEN IT CAN, AND TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHEN IT CANNOT.+
+NO GOVERNMENT CAN CONDUCT ITS AFFAIRS ENTIRELY IN THE PUBLIC VIEW AND NO GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO SHARE ALL INFORMATION AT EVERY STEP OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS WITH ITS PEOPLE.
/+WHAT IS