MONDAY, JULY 2, 1984
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MULTI-CHANNELS TO KEEP PUBLIC INFORMED
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THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT IN KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED INVOLVES CIVIL SERVANTS AT ALL LEVELS ALL THE TIME, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE NT ROTARY CLUB THIS EVENING, MR MACPHERSON LISTED 16 COMMONLY USED CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC.
THESE CHANNELS INCLUDE THE UMELCO OFFICE, URBAN COUNCIL WARDS, DISTRICT BOARDS AND GOVERNMENT ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES AS WELL AS THE CASUAL +RING-IN+ PROGRAMMES ON THE RADIO. THEY RANGE FROM PERSONAL CONTACTS BY DISTRICT OFFICERS TO SCIENTIFIC OPINION POLLS AND ATTITUDE SURVEYS.
+AMONG THESE, NO LESS THAN 11 ARE TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE THROUGH THESE CHANNELS IS VERY GREAT INDEED,+ MR MACPHERSON SAID.
TAKING THE EXAMPLE OF UMELCO, MR MACPHERSON POINTED OUT THAT ON ALL IMPORTANT ISSUES, THE GOVERNOR HAS TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHICH IS FULLY BRIEFED BY THE GOVERNMENT ON THE PROPOSALS AND ON THE LIKELY PUBLIC REACTION AND PUBLICITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROPOSALS. SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO ATTEND THE COUNCIL IN PERSON TO ELABORATE ON THE INFORMATION AND TO ANSWER QUERIES.
+WHERE LEGISLATION IS REQUIRED, A BILL WILL BE DRAFTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE PURPOSE OF IT IS GIVEN IN THE EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM ATTACHED TO THE BILL, WHICH IS ELABORATED ON BY THE OFFICIAL WHO INTRODUCES IT. DURING DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO QUERIES RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
THE NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION DOES NOT STOP ON THE BILL BECOMING LAW. THE PUBLIC WILL WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS NOT ONLY AT THE MOMENT THE LAW IS BROUGHT INTO OPERATION BUT ALSO AT ANY TIME WHEN THE LAW IS LIKELY TO AFFECT THEM PERSONALLY AND THEY WOULD LIKE THE INFORMATION TO BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. LAST YEAR,
LAST YEAR, THERE WERE OVER FOUR MILLION PEOPLE ASKING FOR INFORMATION ON VARYING SUBJECTS AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS OF DISTRICT OFFICES, HE SAID.
IF PUBLIC FUNDS HAVE TO BE VOTED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW IN QUESTION, THE NATURE AND LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE WILL HAVE TO BE JUSTIFIED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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