XN000022-1987-05-06 — Page 36

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987

MR FORD, HOWEVER, POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS ROOM FOR FURT HER MOVES TOWARDS OPEN GOVERNMENT.

+SOME MORE BOARDS AND COMMITTEES COULD CONSIDER OPENING THEIR MEETINGS TO THE PUBLIC, SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICERS COULD MORE READILY RESPOND TO REQUESTS FROM THE MEDIA THAN THEY DO AT PRESENT.

+I BELIEVE THAT THE GRADING OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS COULD BE MORE REGULARLY REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT OVER- CLASSIFIED.

+THIS SHOULD RESULT IN GOVERNMENT INFORMATION BEING MADE MORE FREELY AVAILABLE, HE SAID.

BUT MR FORD ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD YET TO BE CONVINCED THAT TO LEGISLATE TO PROVIDE A RIGHT TO INFORMATION WAS NECESSARILY THE RIGHT WAY TO PROCEED.

+EXPERIENCE IN AUSTRALIA AND UNITED STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS SHOWN THAT FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LEGISLATION IS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE IN PRACTICE AND COSTLY TO IMPLEMENT.

+IN THESE COUNTRIES IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE RIGHT ACCESS TO INFORMATION CANNOT BE ABSOLUTE- THERE MUST BE SPECIFIED EXEMPTIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF ESSENTIAL PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AND TO ENSURE THE PROPER CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.

MR FORD ADDED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT IN CANADA HAS LED CIVIL SERVANTS TO BE RELUCTANT TO PUT THEIR VIEWS ON PAPER AT ALL.

+WHEREAS THAT MAY SAVE THE GOVERNMENT A GREAT DEAL OF PAPER I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS CONDUCIVE TO THE BUSINESS OF GOOD GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.

NO URGENCY IN DECIDING ON REPLACEMENT AIRPORT

*****

IT IS UNLIKELY THAT A DECISION ON A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BEFORE 1990-91, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN YAXLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM.

*THE GOVERNMENT AGREES THAT IN THE LONGER TERM, HONG KONG WILL REQUIRE A NEW AIRPORT BUT THE QUESTION OF TIMING IS CRUCIAL,+ HE SAID.

/MR YAXLEY