TNAG-2215-FCO40-3182-Address-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-Legis-1991 — Page 57

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ASSESS AND, I HOPE, SUPPORT ITS PROPOSALS. THE ADMINISTRATION DETERMINED TO RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND IN SO DOING,

SUGGESTIONS AND CRITICISMS OF ALL

TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE

MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.

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8. THE ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, OFFICIALS WILL HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MEMBERS. FROM TODAY, ONLY THREE OFFICIALS WILL HOLD SEATS IN THIS COUNCIL. IN THE LAST SESSION, THERE WERE TEN: SIX YEARS AGO, THERE WERE 22. THE SMALL NUMBER OF OFFICIALS NOW IN THE COUNCIL

COULD NOT POSSIBILITY CARRY THE BURDEN OF EXPLAINING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES IN EVERY AREA, LET ALONE PROVIDING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PUT FORWARD BY MEMBERS ON MATTERS OF DETAIL. SO, IN ORDER TO HELP THIS COUNCIL HAVE A FULL AND DIRECT VIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES IN THE GREAT RANGE OF AREAS THESE COVER, AND TO HELP BUILD UP AN EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH MEMBERS, I WILL NOMINATE OTHER OFFICIALS TO ATTEND BEFORE THE

COUNCIL AT APPROPRIATE TIMES.

9. THESE OFFICIALS WILL HAVE THE TASK OF PRESENTING BILLS: EXPLAINING EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS: ANSWERING 'MEMBERS' QUESTIONS: AND REPLYING TO DEBATE. THEY WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN CREATING EFFECTIVE DAY-TO-DAY LINKS SO THAT MEMBERS CAN BEST DISCHARGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PUBLIC. A NEW STRUCTURE REQUIRES NEW PROCEDURES. I AM SURE YOU WILL WELCOME THE CONTRIBUTION THESE OFFICIALS CAN MAKE AND WILL HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NEW

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE.

10. EQUALLY, IF NOR MORE IMPORTANT, IT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. UNDER OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, THE KEY POLICY-MAKING BODY. ITS MEMBERS WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT

ROLE TO PLAY AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE BOTH IN REFLECTING THE VIEWS AND CONCERNS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND IN EXPLAINING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSALS TO YOU AND TO A WIDER PUBLIC. WE NEED TO GIVE EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS MORE TIME TO

CONSIDER POLICY ISSUES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS AND NOT ALLOW MEETINGS TO BECOME CLUTTERED WITH ROUTINE BUSINESS. A THOROUGH REVIEW HAS BEEN MADE OF HOW TO DO THIS. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S PROCEDURES ARE BEING STREAMLINED TO ALLOW ITS MEMBERS TO CONCENTRATE MORE, AND EARLIER, ON THE ESSENTIAL ISSUES.

1. MEMBERS, I AM SURE, WILL WANT TO REVIEW THE WAY IN WHICH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ITSELF IS ORGANISED AND CONDUCTS ITS BUSINESS. AMONG THE IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH I KNOW THAT YOU ARE

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