XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

29

ROLE OF ADVISORY BOARDS, COMMITTEES EXPLAINED

*

THE ROLE OF THE VAST PROPORTION OF ADVISORY BOARDS COMMITTEES IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT то OBTAIN THE POSSIBLE ADVICE ON WHICH TO BASE DECISIONS, THE SECRETARY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"BUT DECISIONS THEMSELVES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY GOVERNMENT, MR TSAO SAID IN THE RESUMED POLICY DEBATE.

AND

BEST

FOR

THE

OF

THE

INCLUDING COMMITTEES AT DISTRICT AND AREA LEVEL, THERE ARE WELL OVER 400 BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, COMPRISING ALMOST 5,000 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHICH GIVE ADVICE EITHER DIRECTLY TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OR TO INDIVIDUAL HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, MR TSAO SAID.

"MEMBERS OF THESE COMMITTEES ARE SELECTED BECAUSE OF THEIR PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IN, OR SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE OF,

SUBJECT, OR THROUGH THEIR RECORD OF INTEREST IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.

PART

"THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THESE BOARDS FORMED AN IMPORTANT IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, IN THE FORMULATION OF POLICIES, AND IN THE METHODS IN WHICH SUCH POLICIES ARE EVENTUALLY IMPLEMENTED.

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MR TSAO POINTED OUT THAT THE BOARDS DID NOT ABSOLVE GOVERNMENT OF ITS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY, THOUGH HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE VIEWS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES WERE CLOSELY CONSIDERED IN ALL SECTORS AND SECTIONS OF THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT.

MR TSAO SAID THE COMPOSITION AND OPERATION OF THE DIFFERENT BODIES NEEDED TO BE REGULARLY REVIEWED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE ADVICE.

1987.

SUCH REVIEWS WERE CARRIED OUT EVERY TWO YEARS, THE LATEST IN

TERMS OF

REFERENCE OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES WERE ALSO REGULARLY REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE UP TO DATE AND REFLECTED PRESENT DAY REQUIREMENTS.

"WHERE APPROPRIATE CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES SO THAT AN IN EASING NUMBER OF THEM ARE CHAIRED BY NON-OFFICIALS,

ΓΙ

HE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE DURATION GOVERNMENT WAS ADOPTING WHAT WAS ENSURE THAT THERE WAS A

REGULAR

OF MBERSHIP, MR TSAO KNOWN AS THE "SIX-YEAR INJECTION OF NEW BLOOD

SAID THE RULE" TO INTO

THE

SYSTEM.

/"HOWEVER, THIS