XN000022-1978-11-16 — Page 7

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1978

THESE THREE MEASURES, MR. ROWLANDS SAID, SHOULD BETWEEN THEM HAVE A CONSIDERABLE AND EARLY IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS THE BURDEN OF WORK FALLING ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE HAD EXPANDED ENORMOUSLY AS WE CARRIED THROUGH THE MULTIFAR IOUS PROGRAMMES AIMED AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MEETING RISING AND RIGHTFUL EXPECTATIONS.

HE SAID: +WHILE THIS EXPANSION AND THESE AIMS HAVE BEEN NECESSARY AND RIGHT AND HAVE ENJOYED WIDE SUPPORT THEY HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY PUT A VERY SEVERE STRAIN ON THE MIDDLE AND UPPER MANAGEMENT LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT GOOD STAFF RELATIONS AND GOOD MAN-MANAGEMENT HAVE SOMETIMES SUFFERED.+

GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGES COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC

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THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS BETWEEN IT AND THE PUBLIC AND HAS PUT MUCH TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS AREA OF ACTIVITY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED POLICY DEBATE, MR. LI SAID THAT THERE CAN BE NO COMPLACENCY IN THIS FIELD AND THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

+ INDEED, AN IMPORTANT AND CONTINUING TASK MUST BE TO KEEP OUR PERFORMANCE UNDER REVIEW: CONSTANTLY TO SEEK AND TO IMPLEMENT WAYS OF IMPROVING OUR PRESENT SYSTEM SO THAT WE MAY ACHIEVE GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS AND RIGHTFUL ASPIRATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY, IN ORDER THAT THESE MAY BE PROPERLY GAUGED AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE DECISIONS VITALLY AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY'S WELL-BEING, ARE TAKEN,+ MR. LI SAID.

+ IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT ONLY ARE, BUT ARE SEEN TO BE,

A GOVERNMENT WHICH CARES, HE ADDED.

MR. LI POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S TASKS IN THE COMING MONTHS WILL BE TO STRENGTHEN THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF ADVISORY BODIES, TO WIDEN REPRESENTATION ON THESE COMMITTEES, TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND TRY TO INVOLVE MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS.

IN REPLY TO THE HON, WONG LAM'S REMARK THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES ONLY SUPERFICIAL IMPORTANCE TO ANYTHING WRITTEN IN CHINESE, PARTICULARLY IN THE CORRESPONDENCE COLUMNS OF NEWSPAPERS, MR. LI SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND GOES TO A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE TO MINIMISE IT.

IMPORT

SAVANA NA SA