XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 50

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7,

1992

33

OMELCO TO BE WOUND UP?

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY IT SEEMED SENSIBLE TO WIND UP THE OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (OMELCO).

AND HE HAS PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW NON-STATUTORY GOVERNMENT-LEGCO COMMITTEE TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGCO AND THE ADMINISTRATION,

IN HIS POLICY SPEECH, MR PATTEN SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO GO STILL FURTHER IN ENSURING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD THE INDEPENDENCE IT NEEDED TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY.

"YOU MUST HAVE CLEAR AND SEPARATE MANAGEMENT OF YOUR OWN AFFAIRS. IT WOULD SEEM SENSIBLE TO WIND UP THE OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (OMELCO), WHOSE FUTURE I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING.

**WE ARE READY TO WORK ACTIVELY WITH MEMBERS IN DEVELOPING FINANCIAL AND MANAGERIAL AUTONOMY IN ORGANISING YOUR OWN ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT FACILITIES. WE WELCOME YOUR PROPOSALS, HE

SAID.

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MR PATTEN SAID THE COUNCIL ALREADY HAD THE POWERS TO DEVELOP ITS OWN COMMITTEE STRUCTURE.

"I ASSUME YOU WILL WISH TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM THAT ENABLES YOU TO ENSURE THE EXECUTIVE IS FULLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE, AS LAID DOWN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW, AND THAT THIS PROCEDURE WORKS EFFECTIVELY AND OPENLY."

HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO DEVELOP THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC BUSINESS WAS CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY.

"I PROPOSE THAT A GOVERNMENT-LEGCO COMMITTEE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION CAN DISCUSS WITH MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THE HANDLING OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL PROGRAMMES.

"THIS NEW NON-STATUTORY BODY WILL BE CHAIRED BY ME OR BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY OR FINANCIAL SECRETARY ACCORDING TO THE SUBJECT UNDER DISCUSSION," MR PATTEN SAID..

THE GOVERNOR INVITED THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE FOR ITSELF THE MEMBERS THAT SHOULD BE ASKED BY HIM TO JOIN THE NEW BODY.

HE ADDED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO DISCUSS THE PRECISE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE.

"BUT ITS MAIN PURPOSE WILL BE THE VITAL TASK OF CREATING AN EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION, SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF MEMBERS' CONCERNS, AND SO THAT THIS COUNCIL IS FULLY BRIEFED ON THE PROPOSALS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ASKING MEMBERS TO SUPPORT," MR PATTEN SAID.

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