XN000022-1984-10-25 — Page 9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1984

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DB REFORMS SUPPORTED BY CHAN YING-LUN

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THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF BOARDS BEING TAKEN UP BY ELECTED MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CEASING TO BE FULL BOARD MEMBERS, WERE ALL STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+ I THINK THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN RETURNING POWER TO THE PEOPLE AND, IF PROPERLY ADMINISTERED, WILL ENSURE A BETTER AND MORE RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT AND PROVIDE A FIRMER BASIS FOR OUR FUTURE ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK, THE HON CHAN YING-LUN SAID.

TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE A LOT MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE UNOFFICIALS, HE SAID.

+ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, IT MUST IMPRESS UPON ITS STAFF WORKING AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND PROMPTLY AND POSITIVELY TO SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS FROM UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS,

+EXPERIENCE TELLS US THAT IT IS OFTEN TOO EASY FOR DISTRICT OFFICIALS ATTENDING DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TO TAKE ADVICE, BUT IT IS OFTEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RESPOND TO THE ADVICE AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO ACT UPON THE ADVICE.

+FROM MY CONTACTS WITH UNOFFICIAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, TH IS A GENUINE WORRY ON THEIR PART THAT AS SOON AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CEASE TO BE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS THEY WILL SIMPLY PLAY A PASSIVE ROLE WITHOUT DISPLAYING THE SAME DEGREE OF INITIATIVE, ENTHUSIASM AND PARTICIPATION HITHERTO SO CONSPICUOUS AMONG THE DISTRICT OFFICIAL TEAM, + MR CHAN SAID.

HE SHARED THIS CONCERN AND HOPED THE ADMINISTRATION COULD ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY THEIR EXECUTIVE ROLE EFFECTIVELY.

ON MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF A MORE OPEN GOVERNMENT, MR CHAN SAID THE SAME PRINCIPLE SHOULD ALSO BE APPLIED AT THE DISTRICT BOARD LEVEL.

+WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSULTATION AND CONCENSUS, BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND PEOPLE'S GROWING INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS THERE HAS BEEN A CORRESPONDING DEMAND FOR MORE CONSULTATION ON GOVERNMENT POLICIES, PARTICULARLY ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE WELFARE OF RESIDENTS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.

+AS THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW DEALING WITH A MORE VOCAL POPULATION IT SHOULD ALLOW THE INTERESTED PUBLIC TO HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS OPENLY THOSE POLICY PROPOSALS THAT AFFECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HE SAID.

+AT PRESENT,