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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1984
PUBLIC OPINION, HE POINTED OUT, HAD BEEN +OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOUR+ OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE.
+ IT IS NOT MY IMPRESSION THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS ARE OBJECTED TO IN PRINCIPLE, BUT RATHER THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS SHOULD NOT EE CONTEMPLATED UNTIL THE SYSTEM OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS ENVISAGED HAS BEEN FIRMLY ESTABLISHED.
+MEMBERS MAY BE ASSURED THAT FULL ACCOUNT WILL BE TAKEN OF THESE VIEWS IN THE WHITE PAPER, HE SAID.
AS FOR THE BROADER IF ISSUE OF CIVIC EDUCATION IN POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS CALLED FOR BY SOME LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, SIR PHILIP SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COURSES IN SCHOOLS WOULD CONTINUE AND ENCOURAGEMENT WOULD BE GIVEN TO OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANISATIONS TO PROVIDE MORE COURSES IN CIVIC EDUCATION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
OPEN GOVERNMENT
HE SHARED THE VIEW THAT THE MORE OPEN THE GOVERNMENT THE EASIER IT WOULD BE TO ACHIEVE A GREATER LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT BY THE PUBLIC IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG.
THE DECISION BY THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD ITS HEARINGS IN PUBLIC WAS A MAJOR STEP IN THIS DIRECTION.
I
+ AM PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT, SUBJECT TO THE STANDING ORDER 60 (3) BEING APPROPRIATELY AMENDED, ALL MEETINGS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT IT WAS ARGUABLE WHETHER ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, AS OPPOSED TO COMMITTEES RELATED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OR TO THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, SHOULD BE HELD IN PUBLIC.
+CERTAINLY, THERE ARE SOME COMMITTEES WHICH ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON A STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BASIS (E.G. THE BANKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR THE ICAC COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE).
+THERE ARE OTHERS, THE PROCEEDINGS OF WHICH, THOUGH NOT OF A HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL NATURE, NEVERTHELESS DO NOT LEND THEMSELVES TO OPEN-FORUM MEETINGS.
+SO THE FURTHER EXTENSION OF THIS ASPECT OF OPEN GOVERNMENT WILL NEED, SIR, FURTHER AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, HE SAID.
AS TO THE REMARKS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE IN INTRODUCING ITS POLICIES, SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THE GOVERNMENT INVESTED HEAVILY IN STAFF TIME AND OTHER RESOURCES TO SEEK OUT PUBLIC VIEWS.
/+I WOULD