WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
5
INDUCTION COURSES FOR ELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS URGED
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THE GOVERNMENT WAS URGED TO CONSIDER ORGANISING INDUCTION PROGRAMMES FOR THE 24 MEMBERS WHO WOULD BE ELECTED FROM THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985 TODAY (WEDNESDAY), DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID THE PROGRAMMES WERE TO ACQUAINT THE ELECTED MEMBERS WITH THEIR NEW ROLES IN THE CENTRAL POLITICAL ORGAN.
THEY WOULD ALSO FACILITATE THE ELECTED MEMBERS TO WORK PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY TOWARDS THE DECLARED AIMS OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
HE BELIEVED THE INDUCTION SHOULD AIM SPECIFICALLY AT THE FOLLOWING THREE AREAS:
*
REAFFIRMING THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SOCIAL STABILITY AND TO THE PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN THE CONTEXT OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY;
* HIGHLIGHTING THE FUNCTION OF ELECTED MEMBERS AS A
BRIDGE BETWEEN THE MASSES AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE NEED TO FOSTER A GENUINE TWO-WAY FLOW OF INFORMED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEM; AND
* EMPHASIS ING THE NEED TO CO-ORDINATE AND HARMONISE
DISTRICT OR SECTORAL INTERESTS WITH THE OVERALL POLICIES AT THE MACRO-LEVEL, AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNISING THE FINANCIAL AND OTHER CONSTRAINTS FACING POLICY MAKERS.
COMMENTING ON THE BILL ITSELF, DR HO SAID HE WAS HAPPY TO NOTE THAT THE PROVISIONS HAD TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, USEFUL SUGGESTIONS FROM CONSULTATIONS WITH THE FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED.
HE CITED AS EXAMPLE THE RELAXATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER AS VOTERS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO INCLUDE THOSE PERSONS WHO WERE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED IN THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL EVEN
IF THEY HAD FAILED TO DO SO EARLIER.
REFERRING TO THE USE OF ABSOLUTE MAJORITY PREFERENTIAL VOTING SYSTEM FOR ELECTION FROM THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, DR HO SAID IT WOULD ENHANCE THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE MEMBERS SO ELECTED.
/HOWEVER, HE