XN000022-1986-12-05 — Page 8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1986

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PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS MUST BE HEEDED

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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS HAVE TO BE ALERT AND EVER CONSCIOUS OF PUBLIC REACTION TO ISSUES BIG AND SMALL, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR JAMES SO, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

+WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT IS CARING, RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE OR NOT IS USUALLY NOT BASED ON MAJOR POLICY ISSUES, BUT ON SMALL DAY TO DAY THINGS,+ HE SAID.

EXAMPLES OF THESE INCLUDED THE TREATMENT RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM FRONT-LINE GOVERNMENT STAFF AND THE FORMS AND PROCEDURES THEY ENCOUNTERED WHEN HAVING TO DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.

HE NOTED THAT A GOOD PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD THEREFORE BE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE PUBLIC'S REACTION AND COLLECT, COLLATE AND ASSESS PUBLIC OPINION THROUGH THE MEDIA AND BY MONITORING PUBLIC COMPLAINTS,

+WHEN FORMULATING GOVERNMENT POLICIES OR DRAWING UP ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BEAR IN MIND THE HUMAN FACTOR, THAT IT IS PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE RECEIVING END OF THE POLICIES AND MEASURES,+ HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION DINNER OF A DIPLOMA COURSE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION HELD AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, MR SO SAID, +A POLICY WHICH APPEARS TO PROVIDE THE IDEAL SOLUTION ON PAPER, IF NOT ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLIC, WILL NOT WORK.+

MR SO CITED THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SCHEME AS AN EXAMPLE OF BEING A GOOD AND TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE SCHEME TO SOLVE THE ROAD CONGESTION PROBLEM BUT WHICH WAS THWARTED BECAUSE IT COULD NOT PASS THE TEST OF PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE.

MR SO REMINDED THE GATHERING THAT THE KEY WORD IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WAS +PUBLIC+, AND THE GOVERNMENT STOOD A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF GAINING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND ACCEPTANCE IF PUBLIC COMPLAINTS COULD BE DEALT WITH EXPEDITIOUSLY, FAIRLY AND WITH UNDERSTANDING.

MR SO POINTED OUT THAT ANOTHER WAY TO GAUGE THE PUBLIC MIND AND TO WIN PUBLIC SUPPORT WAS THROUGH THE MEDIA.

+THE MEDIA IN HONG KONG ENJOYS GREAT FREEDOM AND EXERCISES MUCH INFLUENCE IN SHAPING PUBLIC OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES.

THUS, AS