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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1985
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, WAS DRAWING UP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR DEVELOPING A BILINGUAL AND BILITERATE CIVIL SERVICE BEFORE 1997.
WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSTITUTION TO ENQUIRE, ON AN INDEPENDENT BASIS, INTO COMPLAINTS ALLEGING MALADMINISTRATION BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HE SAID A WORKING PARTY CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY, WAS CHARGED WITH REVIEWING ALL AVENUES OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL.
SIR DAVID SAID ALSO THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S WORKING PARTY ON LEGAL AID WAS NEAR ING THE END OF ITS TASK, AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PRINCIPLE THAT LEGAL AID SHOULD BE INDEPENDENTLY ADMIN ISTERED, AS MENTIONED BY UNOFFICIALS, WAS ENDORSED BY THE WORK ING PARTY.
+WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE IN HONG KONG FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION OR AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER LEGAL AID, REMAINS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO LIVELY DISCUSSION ON THIS ASPECT OF THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID THAT THE CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE COOPERATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS AND THE INVALUABLE SUPPORT AND ADVICE OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK.
SIR DAVID REITERATED THAT THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO FORGET THE ROLE OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK NOR TO IGNORE THE VALUABLE PART IT HAD PLAYED OVER THE YEARS.
SPEAKING OF THE CALL FOR A POLICY TO ENCOURAGE THE CULTIVATION OF FALLOW ARABLE LAND, HE SAID IT COULD NOT BE DONE UNLESS THE LANDOWNERS, WHO FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER WERE NOT FARMING THE IR LAND, WERE PREPARED TO LEASE OR SELL IT TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, DID WHAT IT COULD THROUGH SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
AS FOR THE CALL FOR MORE ATTENTION TO BE PAID TO WELFARE NEEDS, SIR DAVID SAID MUCH PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE, AND HONG KONG HAD BECOME A MUCH MORE CARING SOCIETY.
MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE AND WOULD BE DONE. HOWEVER, MUCH OF THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG DEPENDED ON VOLUNTARY EFFORT AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS AND HE WOULD BE AVERSE TO ANY WEAKENING OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ADVERSE TO INCREASED DIRECT INTERVENTION BY THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THERE WERE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE AND EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, SIR DAVID SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUING DISCUSSION AND DEBATE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER,
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