WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984
14
PUBLIC HAPPY WITH ENQUIRIES SERVICES
***
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN A GENERALLY HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTION AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC USING GOVERNMENT ENQUIRY COUNTERS, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY.
MR MACPHERSON WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, WHO WANTED TO KNOW HOW THE GOVERNMENT ASSESSES WHETHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ENQUIRY COUNTER STAFF IN DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS IMMIGRATION, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE.
MR MACPHERSON SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO DAY-TO-DAY MONITORING BY HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS. THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH RECENTLY CARRIED OUT STUDIES ON THE DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC IN SELECTED OFFICES OF THE POST OFFICE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS.
+ THE RESULTS INDICATED A GENERALLY HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTION AMONG THE RESPONDENTS, AND WHERE SHORTCOMINGS WERE PINPOINTED IMPROVEMENTS WERE INTRODUCED, MR MACPHERSON SAID.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT - PARTICULARLY WHERE DEPARTMENTS ARE EXPANDING RAPIDLY INTO DEVELOPING AREAS AND WHERE STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND SUPERVISION HAVE NOT FULLY SETTLED DOWN.
BILL TO UPDATE CONVEYANCING ***
A BILL AIMING TO BRING CONVEYANCING IN HONG KONG UP TO DATE WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CONVEYANCING AND PROPERTY BILL 1984, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, POINTED OUT THAT CONVEYANCING HERE STILL FOLLOWS THE LAW AND PRACTICE AS IT WAS IN ENGLAND IN 1844.
NONE OF THE MAJOR REFORMING MEASURES IN THAT COUNTRY OF THE 19TH CENTURY OR OF 1925 HAD BEEN INTRODUCED INTO HONG KONG, MR THOMAS SAID.
ATTEMPTS IN 1966 AND 1973 TO UPDATE THE LAW ON CONVEYANCING HAD FOUNDERED FOR LACK OF CONSENSUS WITHIN THE PROFESSION ON WHAT WAS REQUIRED, HE ADDED.
IN OCTOBER 1982, A WORKING GROUP CONSISTING OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, ONE OF HIS LEGAL OFFICERS, FOUR PRACTISING CONVEYANCERS AND THE DEPUTY LAW DRAFTSMAN WAS FORMED AND BEGAN CONSIDERATION OF THE CONTENTS OF A NEW BILL.
/THIS GROUP