XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

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APOLITICAL CIVIL SERVICE IMPORTANT: CS

* * * * * *

IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE REMAINS APOLITICAL

THE IN

POLITICAL THE FACE OF THE CHANGING

ENVIRONMENT, CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY SIR DAVID SAID. THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDED POLITICAL SUPPORT

EXECUTIVE FROM THE

COUNCIL AND SUBSEQUENTLY

THE

ADDRESS, FIRSTLY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

FROM

SIR DAVID SAID THE ADMINISTRATION RECOGNISED THAT IT MIGHT ALWAYS BE EASY TO GAIN THE SUPPORT OF A MAJORITY OF LEGCO MEMBERS THE BECAUSE UNDER THE SYSTEM THERE WAS NO ORGANISED PARTY SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNCIL OR IN THE MEDIA OR IN THE COMMUNITY AS WHOLE.

NOT

HE

A POINTED OUT THAT UNDER OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS GOVERNMENT COULD EXPECT THE COMPORT OF KNOWING THAT ITS PARTY OF

WOULD RALLY ROUND BOTH ON SUNNY DAYS AND MORE SUPPORTERS

IMPORTANTLY

IN STORMY TIMES ALSO.

PARTY

IT HAS "THIS GOVERNMENT HOWEVER DOES NOT HAVE THAT LUXURY. POLITICAL

FROM ANNUAL CONFERENCE, NOR A MANIFESTO,

WHICH DEVELOP AND PROPAGATE POLICY," SIR DAVID SAID.

NO

ΤΟ

"NOR CAN OUR POLICIES BE TESTED IN ELECTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE NO POLITICAL CANDIDATES TO FIELD, HE SAID.

THE

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM TO ADMINISTRATION HAD NO PARTY MACHINE OR WHIP COUNCIL, GIVE IT THE GUARANTEED MAJORITIES THAT SUPPORTED GOVERNMENTS IN DEVELOPED DEMOCRACIES.

MORE

-

"NOR DO WE HAVE ELECTED MINISTERS TO PROVIDE A POPULAR SOMETIMES UNPOPULAR PUBLIC FACE," HE SAID.

AND

THEREFORE

WAS ISOLATED

HE CAUTIONED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION MUST BE CAREFUL NOT ΤΟ

IT DRIFT INTO A SERIES OF SITUATIONS IN WHICH BECAUSE IT HAD NO IN-BUILT SUPPORT.

SEEN

"THERE IS A REAL DANGER OF THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A PERCEPTION IN HONG KONG THAT, TO BE POPULAR, A POLITICIAN MUST SOMETIMES BE TO BE OPENLY CRITICAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

"MOREOVER, BECAUSE UNDER OUR SYSTEM, GOVERNMENTS DO NOT CHANGE, THOSE POLITICIANS WHO MAY REGARD THEMSELVES AS ACTING AS OPPOSITION TO ONE THE GOVERNMENT, ARE NOT RESTRAINED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY,

RESPONSIBILITY, DAY, AS A GROUP, MAY HAVE TO ASSUME REAL GOVERNMENT HE SAID.

IN THE MEDIA TOO, HE SAID, IT WAS A FACT OF LIFE, BOTH IN KONG AND OVERSEAS, THAT CRITICS OF THE GOVERNMENT GENERATED FAR FREQUENT AND INTERESTING HEADLINES THAN DID BUREAUCRATS.

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HONG

MORB

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