SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 1983
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MR AKERS-JONES SAID THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT, HONG KONG HAD DEVELOPED A PROCESS OF CONSULTATION AND THE RECONCILIATION OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS THROUGH A BROAD SYSTEM OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
+THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY OF THEM, ALL CONTAINING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THEY DO NOT FOLLOW ANY POLITICAL THEORY WHEN THEY GIVE THEIR ADVICE, THEY SEEK TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS: WILL IT WORK IN HONG KONG? IS IT BEST FOR HONG KONG?+
HE ALSO DREW ATTENTION TO THREE ASPECTS OF OPEN GOVERNMENT WHICH ARE SOMETIMES FORGOTTEN, NAMELY:
*
THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION IS TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD OF PROBITY IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS AND TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACTS FAIRLY AND WITHOUT GIVING OR RECEIVING ADVANTAGE, THAT THERE ARE NO SECRET TRANSACTIONS BEHIND ́ CLOSED DOORS;
* THE JUDICIARY IS INDEPENDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE
AND ANY INDIVIDUAL HAS A RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THE LEGALITY OF ANY OF THE ACTS OF THE EXECUTIVE IN AN OPEN COURT; AND
*
THERE ARE TWO INDEPENDENT TELEVISION STATIONS, AND OVER 100 NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES WHICH REPRESENT EVERY SPECTRUM OF PUBLIC OPINION- ACT AS THE ACTIVE CRITICS OF GOVERNMENT AND ENSURE THAT ISSUES OF PUBLIC CONCERN ARE FREELY AND OPENLY DISCUSSED.
DB TO CONSIDER SETTING UP CONCERN GROUP
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THE PROPOSED SETTING UP OF A CONCERN GROUP TO HELP RESIDENTS IN WONG TAI SIN WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY (AUGUST 30).
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, MEMBERS OF THE CONCERN GROUP WILL TAKE TURNS TO VISIT LOCAL RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, ACCIDENTS AND MISHAPS, AND WILL HELP ORGANISE ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF IF NECESSARY.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED CONVERSION OF A SITE OFFICE AT NORTHERN LUNG CHEUNG ROAD INTO AN AIR-CONDITIONED STUDY ROOM FOR SQUATTER RESIDENTS IN DIAMOND HILL.
THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING BUS PASSENGER SHELTERS BY USING DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS OR DONATIONS FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS, THE LAYOUT PLAN OF THE 2.9-HECTARE URBAN COUNCIL MA CHAI HANG SPORTS GROUND, AND THE DETAILED PROGRAMME OF THE FORTHCOMING WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT FESTIVAL WILL ALSO BE TABLED FOR COMMENTS.
OTHER TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE A REVIEW ON HONG KONG'S TAXI POLICY, THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME IN WONG TAI SIN AND THE PUBLICATION OF A DISTRICT REPORT.
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