WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993
ΤΟ OF
HOWEVER, MR SUEN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS ALREADY RESPONDING THESE CONCERNS BY EMBARKING ON PREPARATORY WORK FOR THE DRAFTING LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR A STATUTORY SYSTEM OF CONTROL OVER PERSONAL DATA COLLECTION, STORAGE AND TRANSFER.
THIS WORK, HE SAID, WAS TAKING PLACE IN PARALLEL WITH THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION'S OWN EXAMINATION OF THE LAW IN THIS AREA.
THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE MIDDle of NEXT YEAR FOLLOWING WHICH THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO TABLE A BILL DURING THE 1994/95 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
RETURNING TO THE REASONS FOR TAKING UP OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RELATED SUBJECTS, MR SUEN SAID IT WAS NOT AN ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT.
"IT FORMS PART OF AN OVERALL PLAN то STREAMLINE THE ORGANISATION AND TO RATIONALISE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA).
FOR, AS MR SUEN POINTED OUT, VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS HAD TRANSFORMED CNTA INTO A PART OF THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE QUITE UNLIKE ANY OTHER FUNCTIONING BOTH AS A POLICY BRANCH AND AS A DEPARTMENT.
-
THIS, HE SAID, HAD RESULTED IN A BLURRING BETWEEN POLICY AND OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS, A LACK OF CLARITY IN THE LINES OF RESPONSIBILITY AND A DEGREE OF UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION OF AND EFFORT.
FUNCTIONS
MANAGEMENT
FOR THESE REASONS, AN INTERNAL ORGANISATION AND REVIEW HAS RECOMMENDED THAT CNTA BE TURNED INTO A CONVENTIONAL POLICY BRANCH, THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH, AND AN EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
THE BRANCH, MR SUEN SAID, HAD ALREADY COME INTO BEING ON OCTOBER 15 USING EXISTING RESOURCES, SO THAT NEW RESPONSIBILITIES WERE TAKEN ON WITHOUT DELAY,
"ALTHOUGH WE ARE TAKING ON ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, MEMBERS CAN REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY OURSELVES DILIGENTLY TO THE SUBJECTS THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN HANDLING.
"THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH WILL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO GIVE HIGH PRIORITY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
"OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN AN EXPANSION IN THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS.
**
IN THIS CONTEXT, MR SUEN GAVE HIS ASSURANCE THAT THIS EXPANSION CONTINUE IN STEP WITH THE COMMUNITY'S DESIRE TO HAVE A GREATER SAY IN DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES.
WOULD
CONSIDERATIONS IN
WHICH IS WHY, MR SUEN SAID, ONE OF THE KEY DECIDING ON THE APPROPRIATE STRUCTURE FOR THE NEW HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WAS HOW BEST TO FACILITATE THE DISTRICT BOARDS ΤΟ TACKLE DISTRICT PROBLEMS VIGOROUSLY, PROMPTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
"WE
**
PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS AIM BY, INTER ALIA, PROVIDING A MORE SENIOR PRESENCE ON THE GROUND, HE SAID.
/"WE ARE