XN000022-1993-03-10 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1993

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MOTION DEBATE ON OFFICIALS POLITICAL APPOINTMENT

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THE FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE, BARRIE WIGGHAM, WHEN WINDING UP THE MOTION DEBATE ON POLITICAL APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR. PRESIDENT,

WITH

EVERY RESPECT TO MR. ANDREW WONG, HIS MOTION I'M AFRAID REMINDS ME OF ONE OF THOSE IRISH STORIES, WHICH HAS A FOREIGN TRAVELLER LOST IN THE IRISH COUNTRYSIDE. HE SEES AN IRISHMAN BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ASKS HIM THE WAY TO A PARTICULAR VILLAGE. THE IRISHMAN THINKS FOR A WHILE, SCRATCHES HIS HEAD AND SAYS ΤΟ THE TRAVELLER "IF I WERE YOU I WOULDN'T START FROM HERE". MR. WONG SEEMS ΤΟ WANT US TO START FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. HE IGNORES OUR PRESENT WHEREABOUTS.

I NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF MEMBERS REJECTING HIS PROPOSALS DID SO AT LEAST IN PART ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE'S NOTHING VERY MUCH WRONG WITH OUR PRESENT SYSTEM. THEY MIGHT HAVE QUOTED THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN PHILOSOPHER "IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!"

WHAT SORT OF SYSTEM DO WE HAVE THEN? WE HAVE IN HONG KONG EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT, ESTABLISHED THROUGH CONSTITUTION AND PRACTICE, WITH OUR MOST SENIOR OFFICIALS COMING FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE, ALMOST INVARIABLY HAVING BEEN PROMOTED THROUGH THE RANKS, WITH ALL THE ACCUMULATED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT IMPLIES. AT THE TOP WE HAVE POLICY SECRETARIES, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORMULATION OF POLICY PROPOSALS. THESE PROPOSALS ARE THEN SUBMITTED ΤΟ THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR FORMAL POLICY CONSIDERATION. IF ADOPTED, AND IF THEY INVOLVE REQUESTS FOR FUNDS OR LEGISLATION, THE PROPOSALS THEN COME TO THIS COUNCIL.

POLICY SECRETARIES ALSO APPEAR BEFORE THIS COUNCIL то ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS, AND APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNCIL'S MANY PANELS AND COMMITTEES TO EXPLAIN AND DEFEND GOVERNMENT POLICIES. TOGETHER, THIS ADDS UP TO A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH ENSURES THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT THE EXECUTIVE DOES WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE CAREFUL SCRUTINY OF THE LEGISLATURE AS IT SHOULD BE. THIS IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED, TRIED AND PROVEN SYSTEM AND ALTHOUGH I NOTED MISS EMILY LAU REFERRING TO AS AN ODD SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. IT IS A SYSTEM WHICH WORKS, AND WHICH WILL, AS A RESULT BE LARGELY PRESERVED IN THE BASIC LAW. MUCH OF THE THRUST OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW IS AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN THOSE SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE SERVED HONG KONG SO WELL. AND I FOR ONE SEE COMFORT IN THIS PROMISED CONTINUITY,

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