TNAG-0518-FCO40-613-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 47

RESTRICTED

IS THUS MORE AKIN TO THAT OF CABINET MEMBERS THAN BACK BENCHERS,

AND LIKE A CABINET MUST BE ABLE TO WORK AS A TEAM, THOUGH ALL

SUCH ANALOGIES CAN BE HIGHLY MISLEADING. TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THIS,

AS WELL AS PERFORM THEIR ROLE IN THE CHAMBER OF OPPOSITION OR

SUPPORT OR SPUR AS THEIR JUDGEMENT DICTATES, REQUIRES VERY CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE, SAVOIRE FAIRE, AND, I SHOULD EMPHASISE,

TIME AND STAMINA

LACKING, AS IT UNAVOIDABLE, ANY ELECTORAL MANDATE, MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO TRY TO THINK AND PLAN AND SPEAK FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AS THEY SEE IT, AND NOT, AS WOULD BE

SO MUCH EASIER, FOR THE NARROW INTERESTS OF A PARTY, A GROUP, A PROFESSION, AN AREA OR A CLASS. BUT I BELIEVE IT ASSISTS THIS GENERAL REQUIREMENT IF MEMBERS SPEAK FROM AS WIDE A SPREAD AS POSSIBLE NOT ONLY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO OF

SOCIAL BACKGROUND,

THIS IS A SITUATION WHICH, LIKE HONG KONG ITSELF, HAS EVOLVED

AND IS EVOLVING AND CAN EVOLVE FURTHER. AS YOU KNOW I ATTACH THE

GREATEST IMPORTANCE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG TO PROVIDING

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT ALL LEVELS, AND GIVE ALL

THE PERSONAL SUPPORT I CAN TO THE NEW AND GROWING NUMBER OF

BODIES SUCH AS MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES CATERING FOR THIS IN THE

NEIGHBOURHOODS, THESE ARE NOT ONLY DOING A GREAT DEAL OF

PRACTICAL GOOD, BUT THEY ARE ALSO PROVIDING MEN AND WOMEN NOT

PREVIOUSLY IN MUCH CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNMENT MACHINE OR

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A PART, AND GAIN EXPERIENCE, AND THUS BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR ADVISORY AND OTHER

COMMITTEES AND BODIES OF GOVERNMENT.

AS I SAY THIS IS AN EVOLVING NOT A STATIC SITUATION, AND GIVEN

TIME AND THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE WILL AND I BELIEVE THE WILL

IS THERE - THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR CHANGE WHILE RETAINING THE

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER OF THIS COUNCIL, AND SUBJECT OF COURSE TO

THE OVERRIDING REQUIREMENT OF MEMBERS HAVING SUFFICIENT

EXPERIENCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND ABILITY, TO CARRY A FAIR SHARE OF THE EXACTING TASKS THAT HAVE TO BE SHOULDERED BY U MELCO.

MACLEOSE.

FILES

HKIOD (3)

LEGAL ADVISERS

NR.MALE

RESTRICTED