TNAG-1609-FCO40-22131-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 184

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Its

The establishment of

formulating its policies to meet those needs, it has been

the Government's practice regularly to examine the

composition and working of its advisory committees, so as to

ensure that they continue to function effectively and to

fulfil a genuine purpose. Changes are introduced where

necessary to meet new situations.

statutory bodies with some executive functions, and with the

authority in some cases to propose policy changes, is part

of this process. Some observers have suggested that this is

a means whereby the Government can offload its

responsibilities, particularly those for

for taking unpopular

decisions; or that it is a clandestine way of effecting

fundamental changes to the pattern of relationships between

Sui,

the different arms of government. Nothing could be further

from the truth.

Л

In establishing these bodies, the Government's aim

is to ensure that it is better placed to respond promptly

and flexibly to changes in demand for its services, and that

its advisers are better placed to offer advice on policy

issues on the basis of direct knowledge and experience of

the way in which these services are delivered on the

ground. The establishment of statutory bodies with a large

element of membership from outside the public service is an

effective

Its

way

means of bringing the decision-making process

closer to the public and must, I believe, be a welcome

development.