WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1934
4
LATEST MOVE TOWARDS OPEN GOVERNMENT
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LOBO
THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD ITS A 39 OF EVIDENCE IN PUBLIC WAS THE LATEST IN THE LONG LINE OF MOVES MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATION TOWARDS OPEN GOVERNMENT, THE MON ROGER LOBO SAID TODAY.
MR LOBO WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT) TILL 1984, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE SAID THE BILL WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE PROPOSAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
BUT HE ADDED, I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS HELPED TO MAKE THE IDEA OF
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT A PRACTICAL PROPOSITION, BY ENCOURAGING LIVELY AND INFORMED PUBLIC INTEREST WHICH IS, ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE, THE ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOR SUCCESSFUL REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.+
+THIS BILL, IN ITSELF MODEST, IS THEREFORE PART OF THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG TO WHICH WE ARE ALL COMMITTED, AND FOR THAT REASON AS WELL AS FOR ITS OWN MERITS IT MUST COMMAND OUR BACK ING, HE SAID.
MR LOBO POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSAL TO HOLD OPEN MEETINGS HAD ITS ORIGINS IN AN INITIATIVE PUT FORWARD BY THE UNOFFICIALS ON THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE.
THE UNOFFICIALS BELIEVED THAT THE INTERESTS OF OPEN GOVERNMENT WOULD BE SERVED BY THE MOVE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE EVIDENCE WHICH THEY TAKE FROM CONTROLLING OFF ICERS.
THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXPLANATIONS WHICH CONTROLLING OFF ICERS GIVE ABOUT THE USE OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY, AND THE MEASURE WHICH THEY HAVE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE VALUE FOR THAT MONEY, MR LOBO SAID.
HOWEVER, HE ASSURED THE OFFICIALS THAT OPEN GOVERNMENT WAS NOT TO BE EQUATED WITH ROUGH JUSTICE AT THE IR EXPENSE.+
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMITTEE STILL INTENDED TO MEET IN CAMERA TO REACH ITS CONCLUSIONS AND THEIR VIEWS WOULD THEREFORE REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THEY WERE LAID BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF THE IR COMPLETED REPORT.
+THE COMMITTEE WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO DELIBERATE CAREFULLY ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO IT BEFORE COMING TO ANY JUDGEMENTS,+ HE SAID.