TNAG-1363-FCO40-1809-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 117

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Chief Secretary:- Sir, I can't give that assurance to fill

the post of a Government Science Adviser because as I said

in the answer to the principal question I am not convinced

myself that the appointment of one person is the way to

tackle this particular problem. But I can assure Mr. Lee

that the Government is serious in its concern for this

particular problem and that what we need to do in Hong

are

Kong is to ensure that we doing enough to keep Hong Kong

abreast of new science and new technology and we need

all of us, Government, members of this Council and members

of the community outside this Council who have an interest

in this matter to work together to ensure that the Government

keeps ahead in this field.

Mr. Y.T. LEE:- Will the Chief Secretary inform this Council whether or not

previous scientific advisers perform a useful role?

Chief Secretary :- Yes, Sir, the previous Science Adviser while he was with us performed a useful role but events have moved on since then.

Mr. Martin LEE :- Sir, will the Chief Secretary please help us on this :

why should the Government establish this post even before it is considered

whether or not it should be filled because it is almost as inconceivable as

creating the post of Governor for H.K. and then thinking about whether we should

have one?

Chief Secretary - At the time, Sir, it was thought that this was a good way to skin this particular cat (laughter) but in the process of looking at candidates who had applied for the post and what indeed they had to say about the work of

such person caused us to think again.