XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

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MR TSAO SAID THE ULTIMATE POLICY AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STATUTORY AUTHORITIES RESTED WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE OPERATIONS OF THESE BODIES EITHER PUBLICLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OR LESS FORMALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF MEETINGS WITH OMELCO'S STANDING PANELS.

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MR TSAO EXPLAINED THAT THE TERM "STATUTORY BODIES REFERRED TO PUBLIC CORPORATIONS, STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE TO PERFORM FUNCTIONS WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDERTAKEN BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

ON REASONS FOR DEVELOPING STATUTORY BODIES, MR TSAO SAID: "THEY PROMOTE GREATER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT, ALLOW OUTSIDE EXPERTISE TO BE TAPPED, AND THEY ALLOW CERTAIN TASKS TO BE CARRIED OUT AWAY FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONSTRAINTS OF GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, HIRING AND FIRING, PURCHASING OF SUPPLIES AND BUDGETARY PRACTICES."

ON THE WIDE RANGE OF STATUTORY BODIES, MR TSAO CITED EXAMPLES SUCH AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THOSE RUNNING THE RAILWAYS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING; REGULATING THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY AND PROMOTING HONG KONG'S OVERSEAS TRADE.

NOTING A WIDE DIFFERENCE IN THE FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THESE INDIVIDUAL BODIES, MR TSAO SAID THEIR SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT, WERE SET OUT IN THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE AND THE ORDINANCES UNDER WHICH THEY WERE CREATED.

"NONETHELESS WHATEVER THEIR RELATIONSHIP ULTIMATELY IT IS THE GOVERNMENT WHICH IS ACTIVITIES OF THESE BODIES.

WITH GOVERNMENT IS, ANSWERABLE FOR THE

"IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT ANY MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN POLICY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL. THIS IS THE CURRENT POSITION AND IT WILL NOT CHANGE," MR TSAO SAID.

"ONCE THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET DOWN THE BROAD POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES, HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THESE BODIES ARE ALLOWED TO GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT INTERFERENCES.

MR TSAO CITED ALSO THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR THE REORGANISED HOUSING AUTHORITY AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SUCH, SAYING THAT "IT IS GIVEN A FREE HAND TO PURSUE ITS OBJECTIVES AND ΤΟ USE ITS RESOURCES FLEXIBLY TO ACHIEVE THEM.

"THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT

IT IS TOTALLY

GOVERNMENT.

INDEPENDENT

OF THE

/"WHILE THE