WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1992
SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS ON ADVISORY BODIES
* * * ✶ ✶
MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT,
I
THANK
OTHERS
HAVE
ARE
THE
MORE
THEY ALL MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN FOR THE VIEWS EXPRESSED. IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IN THE TIME AVAILABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT I ALL OF THESE POINTS, THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE MEMBERS HAVE
CAREFUL TAKEN
NOTE OF THEM ALL. THERE IS A WIDE
OF VARIETY
AND BODIES
ADVISORY STATUTORY
COMMITTEES. SOME OF THEM ARE
FOR THE ESTABLISHED
PURPOSE OF PROVIDING EXPERT ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THEIR PARTICULAR AREAS OF CONCERN.,
PROVIDE TO
A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC ON BEHALF OF ESTABLISHED
WHERE GOVERNMENT
IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE MANAGEMENT FLEXIBILITY OFFERED BY A BODY OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE IS CONDUCIVE TO EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROVISION OF SERVICE. STILL OTHERS ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE GREATER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. TOGETHER THEY THE FORM A KEY FEATURE OF OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, AS PRACTISED OVER YEARS, WHICH ALLOWS US TO DRAW ON THE BEST TALENTS AND EXPERTISE IS
IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT SYSTEM EVOLVES OVER TIME AVAILABLE DOES NOT STAND STILL. NEW BODIES AND COMMITTEES ARE CREATED FROM TIME TO TIME TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF ADMINISTERING A MODERN SOCIETY OF THERE ARE 5.8 MILLION PEOPLE. OLD ONES ARE MODIFIED, OR REPLACED. CURRENTLY OVER 400 STATUTORY BODIES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
ARE
THAT
:
IT
ARE
GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER AND WIDE VARIETY OF STATUTORY BODIES AND AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO IMPOSE UNIFORM
ΤΟ INFLEXIBLE RULES ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND DECLARATION OF INTERESTS. TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST. IN ESSENCE, ALL STATUTORY BODIES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT, SO STRICTLY SPEAKING IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THEY ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS. BUT THAT IS A HIGHLY
WAY SIMPLIFIED
OF LOOKING AT THE ISSUE. ULTIMATELY, IN AN OPEN SOCIETY LIKE HONG KONG ALL BODIES WHICH PERFORM A PUBLIC FUNCTION ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. SOME OF THEM MAY NOT DO SO DIRECTLY, FOR EXAMPLE THROUGH A SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS. BUT THEY ARE SUBJECT, IS THE GOVERNMENT, TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS, EXPRESSED DIRECTLY TO THEM BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH MEDIA, OR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE BODIES. ARE INDEED THERE ARE ARRANGEMENTS WHEREBY REPORTS OF STATUTORY BODIES LAID BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, AND IT IS OPEN FOR THIS COUNCIL TO DEBATE OR COMMENT ON THEM.
MR
AS
THE
DEPUTY PRESIDENT, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR FOR CONCERN CAUSE
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONSHIP
THESE WITH STATUTORY AND ADVISORY BODIES. THERE ARE WELL KNOWN PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THAT RELATIONSHIP :
IT IS THE GOVERNMENT THAT ULTIMATELY DETERMINES POLICY.
IT IS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT ENACTS THE LAWS AND APPROVES THE FUNDS FOR THESE BODIES WHERE SUCH LAWS AND FUNDS ARE NECESSARY,
/WHERE QUESTIONS