4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1992
"BUT I WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE FAR FROM CONVINCED THAT A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ORDINANCE IS THE BEST WAY FOR HONG KONG TO PROCEED.
"THE BENEFITS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM SUCH A LAW WOULD NOT, IN OUR VIEW, BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE COSTS WHICH ALL AGREE ARE LIKELY TO BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL.
"AND WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED TO AVOID THE CREATION OF A NEW LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY WHICH IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS MIGHT DO LITTLE TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S ACCESS TO INFORMATION," SIR DAVID SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED IT HAD A DUTY TO EXPLAIN ITS DECISION AND ITS POLICIES TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND IT MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AT ALL LEVELS OF THE HONG KONG'S SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
"I BELIEVE WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT WE ARE AN OPEN ADMINISTRATION.
OUR
"BUT I ACCEPT THAT THERE IS SCOPE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN SYSTEMS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. I AM NOT HOWEVER, CONVINCED, THAT A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ORDINANCE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE STEP FOR HONG KONG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.
"
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS SIR DAVID SAW WITH SUCH A LEGISLATION WAS THAT, PARADOXICALLY, RATHER THAN MAKING MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, IT MIGHT RESULT IN LESS BEING MADE AVAILABLE.
"IN SOME COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE ALREADY SUCH AN ACT, THERE IS EVIDENCE ΤΟ SUGGEST THAT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION APPARATUS HAS CREATED A GREAT RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF CIVIL SERVANTS TO PUT THEIR VIEWS AND ADVICE ON PAPER.
"THIS WOULD CLEARLY BE AN UNHEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, AND ONE WHICH WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO GOOD, OR INDEED, OPEN GOVERNMENT HERE.
"THERE IS A BALANCE TO BE STRUCK AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT ACCEPTING PROPOSALS WHICH SUPERFICIALLY LOOK LIKE A STEP FORWARD BUT WHICH MIGHT IN PRACTICE BE RETROGRADE.
"SO Ι WOULD REITERATE THAT WE REMAIN UNCONVINCED THAT THE ENACTMENT OF A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ORDINANCE IS THE RIGHT STEP FOR HONG KONG," THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID,
0
-
/5