XN000022-1982-10-27 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1982

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IN FACT, HE POINTED OUT, THE UNOFFICIALS MEET THE PUBLIC AND RECEIVED REPRESENTATIONS IN THE UMELCO OFFICE, AND POLICIES DISCUSSED IN THEIR PRELIMINARY STAGES BEHIND THE SCENES HAVE NO SIGNIFICANCE NOR EFFECT UNTIL THEY ARE OPENLY PRESENTED.

+A GREAT DEAL OF PRODUCTIVE BUSINESS WOULD NOT BE HELPED IN ANY WAY BY TRANSFERRING IT INTO PUBLIC SESSION SIMPLY TO ACHIEVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE UNOFFICIALS, AND I SUSPECT THAT EVEN LONGER PUBLIC DEBATES WOULD NOT NECESSARILY INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OR CONFIDENCE IN THE MACHINERY OF POLICY MAKING.+

HE THEREFORE WELCOMED THE GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVES TO INTRODUCE MEASURES TO INCREASE PUBLIC INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

ON THE REPRESENTATIVE ROLE OF THE UNOFFICIALS, MR LOBO REMARKED THAT WITH THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL IN RECENT YEARS THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE IN PRACTICE SPOKEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK, FOR ALL CLASSES AND ALL INTERESTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF SETTING UP A WORKING PARTY ON THE PROCEDURES OF THE COUNCIL WOULD GIVE THE UNOFFICIALS +GREATER OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ORDERLY ADVANCEMENT OF OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS+,

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CALL FOR RESTRUCTURING OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

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DR THE HON HARRY FANG CALLED FOR A RESTRUCTURING OF THE UPPER ECHELON OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION +WHICH HAS REMAINED ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED IN THE PAST DECADE+.

SPECIFICALLY HE RECOMMENDED THE CREATION OF A SECRETARY FUR HEALTH POST, TO BE FILLED BY A MEDICALLY QUALIFIED PERSON, TU OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.

HOWEVER, HE WAS QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT HIS SUGGESTION DOES NOT IMPLY ANY CRITICISM OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO AT PRESENT PERFORM THIS ROLE,

BUT THE POINT I WISH TO MAKE IS THAT WE HAVE OUTGROWN THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AND THERE IS A PRESSING NEED TO OUR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, HE SAID.

IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE IS TODAY THE ONLY MAJOR PROGRAMME AREA WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN POLICY CHIEF.

/+JUDGIN / + N