XN000022-1976-02-20 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976

HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS

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HONG KONG IS NOT GOVERNED BY INSPIRATION OR GIMMICK BUT BY A WELL-TRIED SYSTEM OF POLICY FORMATION WHICH IS NOT ONLY TECHNICALLY COMPETENT, BUT WHICH REFLECTS THE ASPIRATIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING HERE.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION, MR. DENIS BRAY, EMPHASISED THIS IN A LUNCHEON ADDRESS TO THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG (HOST) TODAY WHEN HE SPOKE ON THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY AND HOW IT WORKS.

+ADMINISTRATION,+ HE SAID, +IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF AIRING A PROPOSAL, GETTING PUBLIC REACTION AND PROCEEDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC OPINION.

+ IT INVOLVES DIFFICULT PROBLEMS OF FINDING OUT WHAT IS PRACTICAL, WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT PRIORITIES CAN BE ADJUSTED, WHAT IS DESIRED BY AND WHAT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

+SUCH MATTERS OFTEN TAKE TIME TO DEAL WITH IF THEY ARE TO BE DEALT WITH PROPERLY, AND I BELIEVE HONG KONG IS WELL SERVED BY AN EFFICIENT AND ABLE CIVIL SERVICE WHICH GENERALLY GETS THE ANSWERS PRETTY NEAR RIGHT,+ HE ADDED.

MR. BRAY TALKED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT- THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR- AND THE COMPOSITION, FUNCTION AND PROCEDURES OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE" COUNCILS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY THE TWO COUNCILS THAT MADE ALL IMPORTANT DECISIONS ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THE URBAN COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY, FOR INSTANCE, HAD CONSIDERABLE POWERS PRESCRIBED BY ORDINANCE OVER CERTAIN FIELDS OF ADMINISTRATION.

+BUT QUITE APART FROM THEM THE PROCESS OF POLICY FORMATION WHICH CULMINATES IN A DECISION BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL OR THE ENACTMENT OF LAW BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALMOST ALWAYS INVOLVES DETAILED STUDY IN THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED, WITH THE HELP OF ONE OR MORE ADVISORY BODY,+ HE SAID.

ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID: THE ORIGIN OF ALL POWER TO GOVERN HONG KONG IS THE CROWN, THIS POWER IS EXERCISED BY THE GOVERNOR, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE CROWN CONFERRED BY LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS. THESE ARE THE MAIN CONSITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS.+

/THE LETTERS

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