WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1982
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TO DO THIS, THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES A GREAT DEAL OF PRESS ANALYSIS AND HAVE THE MOST ELABORATE SYSTEMS OF TALKING TO AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE.
SPECIAL EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE THAT SENIOR OFFICERS ARE AWARE OF PRESS OPINION DAY BY DAY. NEWSPAPERS ARE SCANNED FOR ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, A SUMMARY OF CHINESE PRESS REPORTS AND OPINIONS AND ANOTHER OF RADIO AND TELEVISION COMMENTS ARE CIRCULATED BEFORE LUNCH TIME, WEEKLY COLLECTIONS OF EDITORIALS ON TOPICAL SUBJECTS ARE PREPARED, AND SPECIAL TRANSLATIONS, SUMMARIES AND ANALYSES ON PARTICULAR TOPICS ARE PRODUCED WHENEVER REQUIRED.
VIEWS NOT EXPRESSED IN THE PRESS ARE OBTAINED THROUGH A VERY EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY STARTING WITH THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, GOING THROUGH HUNDREDS OF SUBJECT ORIENTED COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND SO FORTH, AND INCLUDING THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DISTRICT BOARDS, CONSULTATION IS ALSO DONE INFORMALLY THROUGH LIAISON WITH TRADITIONAL ORGANISATIONS OF THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES, THROUGH NEWER BODIES LIKE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACT, AND THROUGH LISTENING TO COMPLAINTS AND ENQUIRIES AT DISTRICT OFFICES, AT URBAN COUNCIL WARD OFFICES, AT DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRY AND COMPLAINTS UNITS AND LISTENING TO THOSE TAKING THE IR PROBLEMS TO UMELCO.
+THAT THE GREAT MASS OF PUBLIC BUSINESS IS TRANSACTED SO SMOOTHLY SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR THE EFFICIENCY AND SENSITIVITY OF THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE BY CONFRONTATION AND A VOTE BUT BY DISCUSSION AND COMPROMISE. NOT ALL DECISIONS ARE EASY NOR CAN THEY ALL PLEASE EVERYONE. BUT A CONSENSUS IS NEARLY ALWAYS ARRIVED AT WHICH MAY NOT PLEASE EVERYBODY BUT WHICH IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS A WORKABLE COMPROMISE, MR BRAY SAID.
WHERE THERE IS NO CONSENSUS, INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS CAN TAKE THEIR PROBLEMS TO LONDON AND TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. WHICH IS A LOGICAL AND CORRECT STEP FOR IT IS IN PARLIAMENT THAT ULTIMATE AUTHORITY LIES.
THAT FEW SUCH EXPEDITIONS HAVE LED TO A REVERSAL OF GOVERNMENT POLICY HERE MAKES SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT PARLIAMENT DOES NOT EXERT MUCH INFLUENCE OVER THE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. WHILE THIS IS PROBABLY TRUE IN THE DAY TO DAY AFFAIRS, WHEN IT COMES DOWN
TO BASIC RULES LIMITING THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT HERE IN HONG KONG THE INFLUENCE OF PARLIAMENT IS PARAMOUNT,+ MR BRAY STRESSED.
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