XN000022-1994-06-30 — Page 10

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THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1994

MRS CHAN EXPRESSED HER CONVICTION THAT THE PROGRAMME WAS NOT ONLY RIGHT IN ITSELF AND UNAVOIDABLE IN ANY MODERN SOCIETY, BUT THERE WAS ALSO CLEAR PUBLIC DEMAND FOR IT.

"BESIDES, IT IS IN OUR BEST ECONOMIC INTERESTS. EMPLOYERS HAVE

SOUND BUSINESS REASONS TO WELCOME OUR PROPOSALS.

"THEY WILL IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF RELIEVING OUR LABOUR SHORTAGE THROUGH INCREASING THE NUMBER OF WOMEN AT WORK."

REGARDING MEASURES TO PROTECT THE DISABLED, SHE SAID EMPLOYERS HAD SOUND BUSINESS REASONS TO WELCOME THE PROPOSALS.

THEY WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST USE OF ALL THE POTENTIAL FORCE IS MADE AND WILL IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF THE DISABLED WHO UNDERGO EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES TO FIND JOBS.

WORK

LONG WAY TOWARDS HONG KONG, OP VERY PRACTICAL

"TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE MEASURES WILL GO A IMPROVING THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUAL MEN AND WOMEN IN RAISING THEIR DIGNITY AND IMPROVING THEIR LIVES IN WAYS, SHE SAID.

"I

THE GOVERNMENT PREFERS TO ADOPT A MORE DOWN-TO-EARTH APPROACH SPECIFIC AREAS OF DISCRIMINATION WILL BE TARGETED; SPECIALISED INSTITUTIONS WILL BE SET UP TO TACKLE THE MAJOR AREAS DISCRIMINATION; AND A CLUMSY AND COSTLY BUREAUCRACY TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE CREATED.

OF

THE

ЗНЕ SAID THAN

CONSIDERATIONS RATHER

TURNING TO PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, THE PROPOSALS HAD FOCUSED ON PRACTICAL POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.

THEY WILL NOT ONLY RESULT IN A MUCH MORE OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT, SHE SAID.

"THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY WHICH HAS SERVED HONG KONG SO WELL IN THE PAST WILL NOT BE CHANGED,

"WHAT WE HAVE SUGGESTED WILL ONLY IMPROVE THE WAY IN WHICH GOVERNMENT INFORMATION WILL BE HANDLED AND MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC," MRS CHAN SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS INDIVIDUAL BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS WILL THE INITIATIVE IN IDENTIFYING HOW BEST то MEET LEGITIMATE REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

TAKE

ARE

IT WILL MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY ONLY IN THOSE AREAS THAT ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD ADMINISTRATION OR TO PROTECT THE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.

ALTHOUGH ACCESS TO INFORMATION WILL NOT BECOME A LEGAL RIGHT, THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE A SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT CHANNEL OF APPEAL THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AGAINST BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT FAIL TO HONOUR THE CODE OF PRACTICE.

SHE SAID THE SUMMER PROGRAMME WOULD NOT ONLY IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEY WOULD ALSO BRING SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

w

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