XN000022-1980-10-22 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1980

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THE TRADITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF UNOFFICIALS, SHE POINTED OUT, HAD BEEN GENERALLY TO SERVE ON STATUTORY AND NON-STATUTORY ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES AND TO SERVE ON AD HOC COMMITTEES TO WHICH SPECIFIC TASKS HAVE BEEN REMITTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

AS REGARDS THE WAY IN WHICH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE DISCHARGED THE IR DUTIES, THERE HAD BEEN THREE DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE PAST DECADE.

* WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE UMELCO OFFICE AND THE INCREASE

IN THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIALS, POLICY PRONOUNCEMENTS AND DRAFT LEGISLATION CAN NOW BE SUBJECT TO IN-DEPTH EXAMINATION BY AD HOC GROUPS,

*

*

UNOFFICIALS HAVE DEVELOPED AN APPEALS FUNCTION IN THE DISCHARGE OF WHICH THEY HAVE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THEIR RECORDS,

THE CONTROL EXERCISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OVER PUBLIC EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM THE AUTHORISATION OF VOTE PROVISION THROUGH FINANCE COMMITTEE TO SURVEILLANCE OF THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTROLLING OFFICERS THROUGH THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE.

AT THE SAME TIME, SHE CONTINUED, THE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS UNOFFICIALS GENERALLY HAS UNDERGONE A SUBTLE CHANGE: FROM ONE OF TOLERANT ACCEPTANCE TO A VAGUE FEELING THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO TAKE A POSITIVE VIEW OF THEIR POTENTIAL ROLE.

SHE NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES ON WHICH UNOFFICIALS SIT HAS INCREASED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COMPRISE 75 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF 300 AND ARE CHAIRMEN OF ABOUT HALF.

+THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A GREATER USE OF UNOFFICIALS ON COMMITTEES CHARGED WITH SPECIFIC TASKS OF AN INVESTIGATIVE AND EVEN EXECUTIVE NATURE- AND THERE IS NOW A READY ACCEPTANCE OF THE IDEA THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE THE OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUBJECT.

+PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC BIAS IN FAVOUR OF UNOFFICIALS AS CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES UNLESS THERE IS A SELF-EVIDENT REASON IN FAVOUR OF OFFICIALS.+

FOR INSTANCE, SHE SAID, THOSE ADVISORY COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED TO GUIDE RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IR STATUTORY DUTIES SUCH AS THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD AND THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD CLEARLY MUST BE CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS AND THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR RESPECTIVELY.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SOME TASKS REMITTED TO COMMITTEES WHICH INVOLVE SUCH CLOSE SUPERVISION OF THE PREPARATORY WORK BY THE CHAIRMAN THAT AN UNOFFICIAL COULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO DEVOTE THE NECESSARY TIME TO IT ON A CONTINUING BASIS.

MISS DEN

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