11
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1987
ON THE QUESTION OF TIMING, MISS DUNN FELT THAT SINCE THE COUNCIL HAD TAKEN A BIG STEP FORWARD LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A CASE FOR A PAUSE BEFORE TAKING THE NEXT STEP.
IT WOULD DO THE COUNCIL NO HARM IF MEMBERS GAVE THRMSELVES MORE TIME BEFORE THEY MADE ROOM FOR ANOTHER NEW WAVE OF MEMBERS, AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE GIVEN A FEW MORE YEARS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNCILLORS DID AND HOW WELL THEY OPERATED.
TURNING TO THE FUTURE ROLE OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS DUNN SAID THAT THE OVERRIDING PREOCCUPATION MUST BE TO PRODUCE A BALANCED AND EFFECTIVE LEGISLATURE, BUT IT A1.80 HAD TO FIT THE MOULD OF THE LEGISLATURE ENVISAGED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION, PROVISION FOR WHICH WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BASIC LAW.
SINCE IT WAS TO BE A LEGISLATURE "CONSTITUTED BY FLECTIONS" + THERE COULD BE NO PLACE FOR EX-OFFICIO OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL AS
MEMBERS, SHE SAID.
THE JOINT DECLARATION ALSO REQUIRED THAT THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE.
MISS DUNN REITERATED THAT SOME FORM OF "MINISTERIAL TYPE SYSTEM" SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
"I DO NOT MEAN A FORM OF PARLIAMENTARY WESTMINSTER 'MODEL'," SHE STRESSED.
GOVERNMENT IN A
"IN THE LONG TERM, WE SHOULD AIM TO LINK THE NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS TERRITORY RATHER THAN RELY ON OFFICIAL MEMBERS ALONE TO PROVIDE THAT LINK, SHE SAID.
"THIS COULD BE ON THE BASIS OF THE GOVERNOR APPOINTING NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROGRAMME AREAS AND WOULD PUT FORWARD THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES, INTRODUCE ITS LEGISLATION AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AS THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS DO NOW," SHE ADDED.
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY WAS THAT OFFICIAL MEMBERS MIGHT REGULARLY ATTEND THE COUNCIL MEETINGS BUT WOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
SHE URGED THAT THIS ISSUE BE TACKLED BEFORE CONSIDERING FURTHER REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS.
ANY
MI99 DUNN COMMENDED THE APPOINTED
SERVICE TO THE COUNCIL.
MEMBERS ON THEIR
GOOD
THEY HAVE