XN000022-1988-07-08 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1988

CS: CHANGES MAKE FOR MORE RESPONSIVE GOVT

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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS NOW TAKING PLACE MAKE FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT AND, IN MANY WAYS, A STRONGER GOVERNMENT ALSO, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

IN THE NEW SITUATION, THE ADMINISTRATION HAD TO BE SURE IT HAD POLITICAL SUPPORT BEFORE INTRODUCING NEW LEGISLATION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID TOLD A LUNCH MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTHEAST.

AIR AND TEST IN THE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED

FOR EXAMPLE, THE ADMINISTRATION COULD PUBLIC ARENA PROPOSALS WHICH IN THE PAST MIGHT TOO CONTROVERSIAL FOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO BRING FORWARD ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT.

"THIS HAS ENCOURAGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE BOLDER IN ITS APPROACH TO DIFFICULT PROBLEMS," HE SAID IN HIS SPEECH WHICH WAS ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE.

SIR DAVID SAID THE INCREASING PACE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT WAS HAVING A CONSIDERABLE IMPACT UPON THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.

SOME CIVIL SERVANTS TOOK MORE READILY TO THE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES THAN OTHERS, HE SAID, BUT MOST SAW THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING PART OF A SYSTEM WHICH WAS BECOMING MORE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.

"ALTHOUGH PUBLIC AND MEDIA ATTENTION FOCUS INCREASINGLY UPON MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, AND ON DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, THE SYSTEM STILL DEPENDS HEAVILY UPON SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE ΤΟ PRESENT, DEFEND AND ARGUE FOR GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM," BE SAID.

"OUR POLICY SECRETARIES AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS THEREFORE DAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN PUBLIC PRESENTATION AS WELL AS THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE TO DO BEHIND THE SCENES REFORE NEW POLICY SEES THT LEGIT OF DAY.

"THEY SHOULD NOT FEEL INHIBITED IN THE CHANGED POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE FROM ASSUMING A HIGH PUBLIC PROFILE. 1 BELIEVE THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE EXPECT SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO STAND UP AND SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

"THAT IS WHAT LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT AND WE WOULD IN OUR DUTY IF WE WERE NOT TO RECOGNISE IT."

BE FAILING

/BUT SIR