TNAG-1009-FCO40-1259-Appointments-of-senior-officials-in-Hong-Kong-and-Hong-Kong--1981 — Page 12

-

The input of these advisory bodies

-

be they statutory

or non-statutory, standing or ad hoc, subject oriented or geographically oriented augments and complements, and provides critical commentary upon, the official view of the desirable content of policies in the various

- in this context, programme areas.

The Government

-

in the sense of the Governor and the civil service · believes that such input is essential to public understanding and acceptance of policy decisions.

19.

At the same time, this association of advisory bodies with the decision-making process is designed to develop the concept of partnership between the Government - in this context, again, in the sense of the Governor and the civil service and the community. It is essential

-

that we take as dynamic a view of the advisory system as

I would like to think we do of the organisation of Government's internal administration itself. Perhaps neither is adapted

to changing needs and circumstances as frequently as some

would think necessary.

Perhaps, also, the skill with

which we identify groups within the community from which to draw recruits to man the system leaves something to be desired as, indeed, many the recruiting system itself.

But we are

not complacent and the idea is there: it is to reach out and make these councils, boards and committees as representative and as effective as possible for, whatever may be said to the contrary, their role is taken seriously and their advice is never lightly disregarded, whether or not it is accepted.

20.

A recent development in this concept of partnership is the establishment of 18 District Boards, with elected, appointed and official membership, covering the whole of

Hong Kong.

In the case of the urban districts, two seats on each board are filled by nominees of the Urban Council.

/The committees.