XN000022-1982-10-27 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1982

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NOTING THE FAVOURABLE RESPONSE OF THE ELECTORATE IN BOTH NUMBERS AND ENTHUSIASM TO THE RECENTLY CREATED DISTRICT BOARDS, HE SUGGESTED THAT THESE DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BE LINKED IN AN INDIRECT BUT LOGICAL WAY WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

+ IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE OPPORTUNITY NOW EXISTS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH IS NOW BIPARTITE, WITH OFFICIAL MEMBERS AND APPOINTED NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS, TO BECOME TRIPARTITE, AND IN PART INDIRECTLY ELECTED.

+ IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S DECLARED INTENTION FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS TO BE OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ELECTED MEMBERS.

+ IF THESE DISTRICT BOARDS WERE TO HAVE THEIR ELECTED CHAIRMEN JOIN THE RANKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO FORM A THIRD TYPE OF COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP, THE CITIZENS OF HONG KONG WOULD HAVE A MUCH MORE DIRECT CHANNEL THAN HAS HITHERTO BEEN PROVIDED FOR THE EXPRESSION IN THE HIGHER COUNCILS OF HONG KONG OF GRASS-ROOT OPINION.

+THIS WILL, AS WELL, INVIGORATE THE DISTRICT BOARDS THEMSELVES IN PROVIDING THEM WITH A DIRECT LINK TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS,+ HE SAID.

DR HUANG ALSO CALLED FOR A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS AT ALL THE INTERMEDIATE LEVELS.

HE FELT THE WORK OF THE EXISTING ADVISORY COMMITTEES IS ALL TOO OFTEN EMPTY OF MEANING AND APPARENTLY ISOLATED FROM THE DECISIONS THAT ARE SUBSEQUENTLY MADE.

CONSEQUENTLY, IN THIS IMPORTANT AREA OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THE INITIAL ENTHUSIASM OF MEMBERS OFTEN TURNS TO SCEPTICISM.

+WE SHOULD PERHAPS EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING THESE COMMITTEES SOMETHING MORE THAN ADVISORY.

+AT THE LEAST WE SHOULD BE GIVEN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN APPOINTED COMMITTEES AND RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,+ HE SAID.

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