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which created a somewhat somnolent, oppressive atmosphere.

I

also was

Government

struck by

surrounding by the

silence:

unlike

departments in Hong Kong or the United Kingdom,

there was no

indication that people were at work, and the

few staff we saw working seemed to be doing so in a very

The only instance where we saw Chinese

desultory manner.

office

which was

'civil servants' at work was at the

coordinating donations for flood relief (including those

from Hong Kong). This seemed to be very chaotic and

inefficient by Hong Kong standards and, if Mrs Wong had not

insisted that we visit the office, I doubt whether we would

have seen these officials 'at work'.

Briefing Sessions

4.

high standard,

a high

more of this in пу

with

sessions.'

The briefing sessions were, generally speaking, of

a few exceptions, and I shall say

detailed observations on each of the

However, there

were a number of overall

impressions gained and points common to most or some of the

briefings which it would be useful to

'thenes'.

consolidate

as

5.

First, all the

officials, with a few exceptions,

were

frank and

open

in their

discussion of

their

ministries'

programmes,

questions.

policies and

They admitted that mistakes had been made in

and

answering

the past, with the cultural revolution

assuming the role

of the biggest mistake of all.

Pan Cardiga bērn