XN000022-1983-08-28 — Page 3

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 1983

+

SHOULD +WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THE PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS,

THE KNOW HOW DECISIONS ARE ARRIVED AT AND THE REASONS FOR THEM. GOVERNMENT MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE AND WILL BE JUDGED BY THE RESULTS OF ITS GOVERNANCE.+

MR AKERS-JONES SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR STANDS AT THE SUMMIT OF THE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG BUT IN THE EXECUTION OF THE ULTIMATE POWER AND AUTHORITY GRANTED TO HIM HE SHALL, IN ALL CASES, CONSULT WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL+, AND IT IS IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THAT THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT BEGINS.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PAPERS ARE PUT TO IT FOR DECISION WHICH HAVE ARRIVED ON THE TABLE FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF SOURCES, MANY OF WHICH ARE THE OUTCOME OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR CONSULTATION, AND MOST OF THE REMAINDER WILL RESULT IN PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND CONSULTATION OR IN DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

+AND I SHOULD EMPHASISE, THAT THE POLICIES AND PAPERS AND PIECES OF LEGISLATION WHICH ARE PUT BEFORE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, ORIGINATE IN HONG KONG, THEY ARE NOT WRITTEN ANYWHERE ELSE, HE SAID.

+ IF THE DECISIONS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REQUIRE LEGISLATION, THEN THE PROPOSED LAWS ARE PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THERE FOLLOWS A VERY PROLONGED PROCESS OF DISCUSSION.

+ THE PROPOSALS ARE REFERRED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE PROCESS OF OPEN GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN.

+LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETS IN PUBLIC BUT MOST OF ITS WORK TAKES PLACE IN THE OFFICES OF THE COUNCIL.

+THERE, COUNCILLORS DISCUSS AMONG THEMSELVES AND WITH DELEGATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ONLY WHEN THE MEMBERS WHO ARE ALL PRIVATE CITIZENS, ARE SATISFIED THAT THE LAWS PROPOSED ARE SENSIBLE AND SOUND, ARE THEY PASSED FORMALLY INTO LAW IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

+NEITHER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL NOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONTAINS DIRECTLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, ALTHOUGH SOME MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO OTHER REPRESENTATIVE BODIES SUCH AS THE URBAN COUNCIL OR DISTRICT BOARDS,

+MEMBERS BRING A WIDE RANGE OF UNDERSTANDING, ABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE TO THEIR WORK. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO THINK AND PLAN AND SPEAK FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS THEY SEE IT.

+THEY DO NOT FOLLOW A PARTY LINE NOR DO THEY SPEAK FOR THE NARROW INTERESTS OF A PROFESSION OR A CLASS.

+AND BECAUSE OF OUR TRADITION OF FREE SPEECH, EVERYTHING THEY DO IS SUBJECT TO PUBLIC CRITICISM AND COMMENT.

+QUESTIONS ARE ASKED IN PUBLIC IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ABOUT ANY MATTER WHICH IS WORRYING THE PEOPLE AND THE REPLIES ARE GIVEN IN PUBLIC.

+HERE THEN YOU HAVE THE MACHINERY OF AN OPEN GOVERNMENT; IT IS NOT AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE PUBLICLY TO EXPRESS THEIR MINDS AND TO LAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO IT. AND THIS THEY DO.+

/KR AKERS-JONES