XN000022-1973-06-08 — Page 2

Friday, June 8, 1973

GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC

Mr. Augustine Chui Kan, a former Assistant Director of Urban

Services, has been appointed to a newly created post of Principal Assistant

Colonial Secretary (Public Affairs) and will head a small research department

to assist the Secretary for Home Affairs.

In this job he will be co-ordinating the work of collecting and

assessing public opinion for consideration by the government in its decision-

making process.

Speaking about his new appointment today, Mr. Chui stressed that

the main objective of his work would be to plan and establish regular machinery

through which can be obtained a pattern of public opinion at all levels of the

community.

Emphasis, however, will be placed on seeking the opinions of those

people at the grass roots level, particularly groups which are not normally

articulate, he said.

The feelings and thoughts of young people will also be one of the

main aspects he will be looking into.

Mr. Chui explained that, the first phase of the work will involve

consultations with government departments and various commnity organisations

to determine the best methods of getting an accurate and realistic assessment

of public reaction to government policies.

This should lead to a strengthening of existing channels of contact

with the public and the creation of new sourges of information.

There