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McKinsey report calls for sweeping change in way Hongkong is governed
BLUEPRINT FOR RULE
NRK ILLY
BY 'CABINET'
PLANS were unveiled yesterday for sweeping changes in the way Hongkong is governed.
They include a move-to decentralise administrative power while creating a central, top-level policy-making machine.
The change is one of the
in
most far-reaching Hongkong's recent history. Under the scheme, tabled at the Legislative Council and approved in principle, more powers will be granted to heads of
work departments whose
will be co-ordinated by six **Cabinet-level secretarios in charge of the econoniy, environment, home affairs, housing, security and social services.
Colonial Secretary Sir Hugh Norman-Walker who tabled the McKinspy report named after the consultant tirmi which spent a year drawing it up sund the object is to create a smaller but! more highly-powered central machine
imitate rad to brulate
the six secretaries will also monitor, control and co-ordinate implementation of these policies.
Their offices are expected to be set up within six to nine months.
"government: spokesman said although the Government believes that while policies must remain firmly entrenched with the central, government, departments should be given the resources and `authority to carry out activities within their province without constant reference to the Colonial Secretariat.
The dix policy branches of government will be:
Economic-covering the commercial and industrini field, monetary and foreign exchange, banking, securities and stock exchanges, primary products, public utilities such as electricity, gas and tekphones, mi ass tampamět
(Overall control of finame
out
most important areas, in which The new approaches were tried were education, medical health, police, urban services and public works, he said.
and establishment of the mass
transit authority), shipping,
and transport franchises and external aspects of civil aviation,
Environment responsible for policy and programmes covering land matters, Colony planning, the design, construction and timing of new towns, pollution, urban services, roads, road transport, traffic, railway, car parking, mass transit (construction, engineering and land) and operational and works aspects of the airport and harbour.
affairs
Home responsible for policy and programmes covering information services, public relations, broadcasting, television, information on public utilities, cultural activities, tourism, city district offices, and residual New Territories affairs,
Housing
responsible
for policy and programmes, covering housing, resettlement, flatted factories, rent control, and co-ordination of departmental services such as education, health and law and order in new towns.
Security responsible for policy and programmes covering external security, emergencies, internal law and order, immigration, prisons, narcotics and fire services,
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Social services responsible for education, medical and health services,
· social welfare, charities, labour and recreation.
Sir Hugh told the Legislative Council that the recommendations were not a single package which needed to be accepted or rejected as a whole.
**They are rather, a series of new ideas on ways of doing things, to be tried out and implemented if they are found to be workable and effective”.
A number of them had already been adopted with. success while others would be tried in future. Some of the
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They were not "finite" and would have to be modified and amended on occasions since, in longkong's circumstances, flexibility and ~~adaptability” were as important as trade and industry.
The report also listed longer-term changes 10 be considered at a later stage, including the formation of
manage separate agencies to independently the airport, the railway, waterworks and post office with their own board and staff.
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HONG KONG STANDARD MAY 24H 73.
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