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THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1984
GOVERNMENT HAS WORKED WELL
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BRAY
THERE IS MUCH OF VALUE IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS WORKED WELL FOR A LONG TIME, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID THIS EVENING.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IN MOVING FORWARD, IT SHOULD BE WISE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BUILD ON THIS FOUNDATION TO CREATE GRADUALLY A SYSTEM WHICH RETAINS THE STRONG POINTS OF THE PRESENT BALANCE OF INTERESTS WHILE MOVING TO A SYSTEM WHICH CAN READILY BE SEEN AS MORE REPRESENTATIVE.
SPEAKING AT THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF KOWLOON ZONTA CLUB, MR BRAY CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER TO BE PUBLISHED IN JUNE OR JULY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT ALONG MORE REPRESENTATIVE LINES.
+ THIS DOCUMENT WILL DEAL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS AND WILL RAISE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES ON HOW WE ARE GOVERNED, HE SAID.
TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM, MR BRAY OUTLINED THE CHANGES OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.
HE SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD 15 UNOFFICIALS 10 YEARS AGO AND THE NUMBERS HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED TO 29 NOW.
+THE INCREASE, WHICH INVOLVED PERIODIC AMENDMENT OF THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS, TOOK PLACE GRADUALLY. THE BIGGEST INCREASE WAS IN 1976 WHEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP WAS INCREASED FROM 15 TO 22,+ HE SAID.
MR BRAY STRESSED HOWEVER THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED A HIGH DEGREE OF CONTINUITY.
+ IT IS BY HAVING A COUNCIL WHOSE MEMBERS CHANGE ONLY GRADUALLY OVER THE YEARS THAT A DEGREE OF CONSISTENCY CAN BE MAINTAINED, HE SAID.
IN HIS ANALYSIS OF THE COMPOSITION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THE MORE READILY IDENTIFIABLE COMMUNITY GROUPS FROM WHICH APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WERE THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS.
FOR THE REMAINING MEMBERS, IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO RECOGNISE WHAT ONE MIGHT CALL CONSTITUENCIES' FROM WHICH THEY COME, BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO.
EXAMPLES HE CITED INCLUDED MISS JOYCE BENNETT, WHO COULD BE READILY IDENTIFIED WITH THE WORLD OF EDUCATION, DR HARRY FANG WHO IS A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER BUT IS ALSO A MAN SPEAKING FOR
INTERESTS INVOLVED IN REHABILITATION.
/+THE DOCTORS