14
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1994.
POLICY
GOVERNMENT WILL BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO HK PEOPLE
THE
THE GOVERNOR,
RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN,
HIS THIRD IN ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, UNDERLINED HIS DETERMINATION TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
IS,
"ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT IS NOT JUST A POLITICAL SLOGAN. IT QUITE SIMPLY, A FUNDAMENTAL SAFEGUARD FOR EVERY
THE SECTION OF COMMUNITY, THE MOST EFFECTIVE GUARANTEE OF THE INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY OF AN EXECUTIVE-LED ADMINISTRATION," HE SAID.
PATTEN MR
AN SAID HONG KONG WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE
EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT MACHINE AND A SMALLER PUBLIC SECTOR THAN ANY OTHER ADVANCED ECONOMY.
HE ATTRIBUTED THIS TO A DEDICATED AND HIGHLY-PROFESSIONAL CIVIL
SERVICE.
"WE HAVE ALSO MADE IT A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS. WE DO NOT ALLOW GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE TO GROW AT A FASTER RATE THAN THE ECONOMY."
AS A RESULT, PUBLIC SPENDING HAS REMAINED BELOW 20 PER CENT OF WOULD GDP.
HE SAID ALL OF THE PROPOSALS FOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES HE OUTLINE THIS AFTERNOON FELL FULLY WITHIN THIS STRICT EXPENDITURE GUIDELINE.
"WE ARE NOT DEPARTING ONE INCH FROM THE PRUDENT APPROACH
IN FUNDING OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES THAT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL KONG IN RECENT YEARS.
"AT
THE SAME TIME, WE ENTRUST VERY CONSIDERABLE POWERS TO ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS AND WILL REMAIN EXECUTIVE-LED," HE SAID.
ΤΟ
HONG
OUR
MR PATTEN POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD TO BE CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THE
OF EXERCISE
SUCH POWERS, AND THAT WAS
OF THE THE ROLE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE THE POWER TO QUESTION OFFICIALS AND THE ΤΟ APPROVE OR REJECT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES WHEN PRESENTED TO COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF LEGISLATIVE OR FINANCIAL PROPOSALS,
THE
"FOR THIS REASON, THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN, AND WILL REMAIN, CENTRAL TO THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
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