XN000022-1983-10-17 — Page 5

MONDAY CUTCER 17, 198 3

SIR PHILIP EXPLAINED THE TWO LEVELS AND AREAS OF DECISION-MAKING

AND HOW CONSULTATION IN GOVERNMENT LOWER LEVEL AND UPPER LEVEL

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IS A PART OF EACH.

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AT THE LOWER LEVEL, DECISIONS ARE FOUNDED ON ADVICE FROM FUNCTIONAL, OR SUBJECT-ORIENTED, ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND FROM GEOGRAPHICALLY BASED ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

HE ALSO SAID THAT A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT PATTERN OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION TO SEE WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE AND CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES IS NOW IN HAND.

AT THE UPPER LEVEL, THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IS FOUNDED ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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THE POWERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, HE SAID, ARE A CHECK EVEN ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SINCE THERE ARE FEW MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT RESOURCES.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT, IS:

* A CREATIVE BODY, GIVING UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS A CHANCE TO

HELP FORMULATE PUBLIC POLICY

* A CRITICAL BODY, ALLOWING UNOFFICIALS TO QUESTION

OFFICIALS, AND

* A SUPREME BODY, WITH POWERS TO VOTE FUNDS AND MAKE

LEGISLATION.

AS FOR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BRITISH CABINET, ITS DELIBERATIONS +ALWAYS LIE BEHIND A SHROUD OF CONFIDENTIALITY.+

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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR PHILIP ADDED, ALSO HAS A LARGER NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS - 11 OUT OF 17 AND ALL OF THEM ARE BOUND TO GIVE THEIR ADVICE FREELY FOR THE GOOD GOVERNANCE OF HONG KONG.

+THE GOVERNOR IS REQUIRED TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON ALL MAJOR ISSUES OF POLICY AND, SHOULD HE EVER FEEL OBLIGED TO GO AGAINST THAT ADVICE, HE MUST REPORT HIS DECISION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN LONDON,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT WHATEVER MAY BE THE PERCEPTION OF OUR SYSTEM OF CONSULTATION AND CONCENSUS IN THEORY, HE BELIEVES THAT THE SYSTEM +HAS NURTURED AND SUSTAINED THE LEGITIMATE SOCIO-POLITICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+