XN000022-1996-05-08 — Page 23

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Composition and Membership

Our overriding objective in making appointments to boards and committees is to secure the services of the best available persons to meet the requirements of the board or committees concerned. Each appointment is made on the basis of the merits of the individual concerned, taking into account their personal ability, expertise, experience, integrity and commitment to public service. Due regard is also given to the need to ensure a good balance of expertise, experience and backgrounds among the membership of the particular board or committee as a whole. Where appropriate, this will include appointing people with experience in district affairs.

In considering appointment to boards and committees under their purview, Branch Secretaries and Department Heads also bear in mind the need to ensure a reasonable turnover of membership and that individual appointees do not have an excessive workload. Accordingly, we try to avoid appointing an individual to sit on more than six bodies at any one time. We also do not normally re-appoint an individual who has already served on a particular body for six years. These are, however, not hard and fast rules. Some committees may find it necessary to retain the services of members for a longer period either because they possess particular expertise or to provide continuity.

Representativeness

The motion refers to a need to enhance representativeness among the membership of our boards and committees. Several Honourable members have suggested that this could be achieved by giving this Council a greater say in the appointment process. As a matter of general principal, the composition of government boards and committees should broadly reflect the interests and views present in the community. However, in making appointment, we must also give due regard to the functions of the individual body and the types of business that it deals with. Hence, for boards and committees which give advice to Government on issues directly affecting the general well-being of the community, it is natural that Government would tend to appoint more members with experience of and interest in community affairs. On the other hand, appointments to bodies that advise on specialised matters need to include a relatively higher proportion of persons with the necessary expertise. In some cases, we invite professional bodies or other organisations to nominate members to the bodies in which they have a direct interest. For some statutory bodies, provision for this is laid down in the Ordinance concerned.