XN000022-1991-10-09 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1991

11

AND WE

PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH ALL WILL

THE INFORMATION EXPLANATION THEY NEED TO ASSESS AND, I HOPE, SUPPORT OUR PROPOSALS.

AND

THE

SIR DAVID SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS DETERMINED TO MEET COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND, IN SO DOING, TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE SUGGESTIONS AND CRITICISMS OF ALL LEGCO MEMBERS.

ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, HE SAID CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MEMBERS.

HAVE TO

"FROM TODAY, ONLY THREE OFFICIALS WILL HOLD SEATS IN THIS COUNCIL. IN THE LAST SESSION, THERE WERE 10; SIX YEARS AGO, THERE WERE 22, HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID THE SMALL NUMBER OF OFFICIALS NOW IN THE LEGCO COULD NOT POSSIBLY CARRY THE BURDEN OF EXPLAINING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSALS IN EVERY AREA, LET ALONE PROVIDING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FORWARD BY MEMBERS ON MATTERS OF DETAIL.

PUT

IN ORDER TO HELP THE LEGCO HAVE A FULL AND DIRECT VIEW OF THE AND GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES IN THE GREAT RANGE OF AREAS THESE COVERED, TO HELP BUILD UP AN EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH MEMBERS, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD NOMINATE OTHER OFFICIALS TO ATTEND MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL AT APPROPRIATE TIMES.

וי

PRESENTING

"THESE OFFICIALS WILL HAVE THE TASK OF

BILLS:

EXPLAINING

AND QUESTIONS; EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS; ANSWERING MEMBERS' REPLYING ΤΟ DEBATES,' HE SAID, ADDING THAT THEY WOULD PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN CREATING EFFECTIVE DAY-TO-DAY LINKS SO THAT MEMBERS COULD BEST DISCHARGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PUBLIC.

WILL WILL

"A NEW STRUCTURE REQUIRES NEW PROCEDURES. I AM SURE YOU WELCOME THE CONTRIBUTION THESE OFFICIALS CAN MAKE, AND THAT YOU HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE," HE SAID.

EQUALLY,

IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT, WAS THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN

THE LEGCO AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

UNDER THE HONG KONG SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, SIR DAVID SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WAS, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE, THE KEY POLICY-MAKING BODY IN HONG KONG.

"

-

VIEWS

-

AN

AND

ITS MEMBERS WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE

BOTH IN

THE REFLECTING CONCERNS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND IN EXPLAINING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSALS TO YOU! AND TO A WIDER PUBLIC.

"THIS WILL HELP US TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE WORKING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, HE ADDED.

SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT NEEDED ΤΟ GIVE EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS MORE TIME TO CONSIDER POLICY ISSUES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS, AND NOT ALLOW MEETINGS TO BECOME CLUTTERED WITH BUSINESS.

ROUTINE

/"A THOROUGH