MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1983
GOVERNOR TO LEAVE FOR PEKING
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A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER THE DEPARTURE OF THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, FOR PEKING TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
SIR EDWARD, ACCOMPANIED BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN, WILL BE LEAVING ON FLIGHT CA 102, ETD 1 PM.
PLEASE ADVISE THOSE ASSIGNED TO COVER THE DEPARTURE TO ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN 11.45 AM TOMORROW. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
CHIEF SECRETARY EXAMINES HONG KONG'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY SPOKE IN DETAIL ON THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG SET, AS IT IS, IN THE CONTEXT OF A SYSTEM OF CONSULTATION AND CONCENSUS.+
ADDRESSING THE 25TH CONGREGATION OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, SIR PHILIP SAID: +WHETHER ONE REGARDS THAT SYSTEM AS AN ENTIRELY ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY STYLE DEMOCRACY, THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT IT IS, TOGETHER WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM, ONE OF THE THREE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THIS FREE SOCIETY, THE FUTURE OF WHICH IS OF SUCH CONCERN TO US ALL. +
AT THE CONGREGATION, SIR PHILIP AND SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WERE CONFERRED WITH THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS.
SIR PHILIP SAID THAT THE WAY IN WHICH HONG KONG IS GOVERNED HAS ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION RECENTLY AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE TWO REASONS HE CHOSE TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT.
THE FIRST REASON WAS THAT IT HAPPENS TO BE RELEVANT TO HIS PRESENT DUTIES AS CHIEF SECRETARY.
SIR PHILIP SAID THE ENSUING DEBATE HAS CENTRED ON RATHER VAGUE CALLS FOR GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, THE CONCEPT OF ACCOUNTABILITY, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING CHANNELS FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF VIEWS, THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIVENESS TO PUBLIC OPINION AND A VAGUE FEELING OF UNEASE STEMMING FROM EXTERNAL CRITICISM AT THE LACK OF AN ELECTIVE SYSTEM.
HE SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN A TENDENCY TO OVERLOOK THE ULTIMATE DECISION-MAKING OBLIGATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT, +DEFINED FOR THIS PURPOSE TO BE THE GOVERNOR AND THE CIVIL SERVICE, THAT IS TO SAY, THE ADMINISTRATION.+
/STRILI