XN000022-1995-04-26 — Page 54

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Appointments to advisory boards and committees

Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

4

Regarding the Government's policy on the appointment of members of advisory boards and committees, will the Government inform this Council :

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(b)

૦

(c)

whether there are specific criteria for such appointments; if so, what these criteria are;

whether members' attendance rate constitutes one of the criteria for reappointment; and

whether, in regard to the situation of individual members of certain boards or committees with a low attendance rate, the Government will draw up measures, such as stipulating a minimum attendance rate, so that those members who fail to attain such a rate will not be reappointed at the expiry of their terms of office, in order to ensure that members will make every effort to attend meetings?

In general terms, appointments to advisory boards and committees are made on the basis of the merits of the individuals concerned taking into account their personal ability, experience, integrity, commitment to public service and their overall suitability for appointment.

An individual's commitment to public service is taken into account in considering his re-appointment to advisory boards and committees. Attendance at meetings is only one of the many measures of one's commitment to public service.

In light of the above, it is not considered necessary to specify a minimum attendance rate as a criteria for re-appointment as to do so will introduce too much rigidity into the system.

End/Wednesday, April 26, 1995