XN000022-1985-10-24 — Page 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1985

+COMMITTEE WORK VITAL TO HK SYSTEM +

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CHIEF SECRETARY

THE UNSEEN WORK OF MANY COMMITTEES, WHICH MAKE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE FORMULATION OF POLICY, COMMUNICATE A SENSE OF DIRECTION AND GIVE ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT ON LAND AND BUILDING THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, IS AN ESSENTIAL FEATURE OF THE HONG KONG SYSTEM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TONIGHT.

AND MEMBERS OF THE TWO INSTITUTIONS OF SURVEYORS WERE REPRESENTED ON MANY OF THESE ESSENTIAL COMMITTEES, SIR DAVID SAID.

ADDRESSING THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS AND THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS AT THEIR FIRST JOINT. ANNUAL DINNER, SIR DAVID SAID THAT THIS UNSEEN WORK +SELDOM HITS THE HEADLINES, BUT CREATES AN INVISIBLE WEB IN SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE.+

HE KNEW OF NO OTHER PLACE WHERE THIS STYLE OF GOVERNMENT HAD DEVELOPED, HE SAID,

+THIS MIXTURE OF PROFESSIONAL PERSONS, PERSONS APPOINTED TO REPRESENT THE BROADER PUBLIC INTEREST, CIVIL SERVANTS AND LEGISLATORS WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVISE AND ADVISE ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES AND TO SCRUTINISE LEGISLATION HAD DEVELOPED ITS OWN SPECIAL HONG KONG STYLE.

+WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED BECAUSE IT IS SO ENMESHED IN THE MACHINERY OF ADMINISTER ING HONG KONG, BUT ITS ROLE NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED, UNDERSTOOD AND TREASURED BECAUSE IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT FROM THE PATTERN OF THE PAST WILL EMERGE AND EVOLVE THE DESIGN OF THE FUTURE.

+WE SHOULD SEE THE EVOLUTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT AS A QUIET PROCESS OF ADJUSTMENT, SELECTING AND ELECTING THE PEOPLE BEST SUITED TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY AND STANDARD OF LIVING WE NOW ENJOY MAKING OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE REGION, TO THE MODERNISATION OF CHINA AND DEMONSTRATING, BY THE SUCCESS OF THE METHODS WE EMPLOY, THE IR VALIDITY AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD, + THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION+ MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE TWO INSTITUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY GLAD TO PUT ON RECORD+ HIS THANKS FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE SURVEYING PROFESSION IN THE GENERAL AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG AND THE IR PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

IT WAS ESSENTIAL, AND HE WAS GLAD TO SEE, THAT BOTH BODIES OF SURVEYORS WERE COOPERATING AND WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROFESSION, SIR DAVID SAID.

THE FORMATION OF A JOINT COUNCIL WITH THE ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSIONS EXTENDED THIS COOPERATION BEYOND SURVEYING TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

/+IN MY