MONDAY, TANA
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SIR PHILIP EXPLAINED THAT BENEATH THE GOVERNOR AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS HEADED BY HIS THREE PRINCIPAL ADVISERS. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WHO HEADS THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR'S ADVISER ON BUDGETARY AND FISCAL POLICY, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR'S LEGAL ADVISER.
SIR PHILIP, HOWEVER, STRESSED THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL +DOES
BUT "NOT OPERATE WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF CONSULTATION AND CONSENSUS, UNDER THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW.+
+HE MAY BE PERSUADED BY ARGUMENT, BUT NOT BY PUBLIC OPINION, + THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.
IT IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THESE THREE PRINCIPAL ADVISERS THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE PLAYS ITS ROLE IN THE DECISION-MAXING PROCESS, HE SAID.
THIS ROLE COULD BE DIVIDED INTO FIVE TASKS.
* THE FIRST IS TO PRESENT IDEAS FOR CONSIDERATION
* THE SECOND IS TO ENSURE THAT THE RESULTANT POLICY
PROPOSALS GO FORWARD TO ADEQUATE CONSULTATION, WITH THE RIGHT PUBLICITY
* THE THIRD IS TO ASSESS PUBLIC OPINION ON POLICY PROPOSALS
AND EXECUTIVE ACTION AND TO EXAMINE IT CAREFULLY AND
LOGICALLY
* THE FOURTH IS TO PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS FOR ACTION TO
THE CHOSEN INSTRUMENT FOR ADVICE TO THE GOVERNOR, AND
* THE FIFTH IS TO CARRY OUT WHATEVER DECISIONS ARE MADE
OR IMPOSED FAITHFULLY, INTELLIGENTLY AND WITH DUE REGARD TO THEIR POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY DECISIONS THAT MAY BE TAKEN LATER ON.
+PRESENTLY.+ SIR PHILIP SAID, +WE ALL LIVE UNDER THE STRAIN OF MANY ANXIETIES, BUT THE CIVIL SERVICE IS DUTY BOUND TO CARRY ON WITH ITS DAILY TASKS REGARDLESS AND IT CAN BE RELIED UPON, SIR, TO DO SO.+
SIR PHILIP SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG BY AND LARGE DIRECT VERY LITTLE OF THEIR MENTAL ENERGIES TOWARDS POLITICAL THEORY, IT IS AT LEAST ARGUABLE THAT THEIR SENSE OF IDENTIFICATION WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT IS RATHER LIMITED.+
+BUT IN MODERN TIMES, GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME SUCH AN INFLUENCE IN THE DAILY LIVES OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AS TO GENERATE AN ALMOST INTUITIVE RECOGNITION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ROLE OF CONSULTATION IN THE ORDERING OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS HERE, SIR PHILIP SAID.
THERE HAS ALSO EMERGED A PUBLIC EXPECTATION OF CONSULTATION IN RESPECT OF SPECIFIC MAJOR ISSUES AND THE GENERALITY OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES THAT DETERMINES THE NATURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.
ASIA PA