NG KONG
e complex, an in- to harmonize the on; others include vernment finds it ork easier and to Civil and Miscel· of which 160 had ar more than 274, mbers such as the w Territories are working parties permanent, while nd are dissolved District Admin- $5 advisory com-
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It occurred in
THE PUBLIC SERVICE
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1966. The Star Ferry Company had applied to government for permis- sion to raise its fares. The application was justified according to the terms of its franchise, but there was strong public agitation against any increase. Government set up a committee to consider the application, on which the official members were in a minority of 6–9. The committee advised government to approve the increases by 14–1 (Mrs Elsie Elliott dissenting), but despite this three nights of rioting followed.
4. To keep its clients happy, where a government department pro- vides a service for business men or the general public and the committee provides a forum where the 'consumers' can raise their complaints and suggest improvements; for example, the Airport Facilitation Commit- tee, the Airport Operations Committee, and the Aviation Advisory Board, where the Director of Civil Aviation and his staff meet with representatives of the airlines and travel services. The Port Committee, the Port Executive Committee, the Marketing Advisory Board, and so on have similar functions. Most of these committees are composed of experts in the particular field but in some cases they also include members of the general public who have no special expertise, as, for example, the Transport Advisory Committee.
5. To ensure the co-operation of voluntary agencies which provide services on government's behalf; for example, the Social Welfare Advi- sory Committee, the Board of Education, and the Medical Development Advisory Committee. The departments which administer the social services are heavily dependent on the schools, hospitals, and welfare services run by missionary societies and charitable institutions such as the Tung Wah Hospital Group. Since their help is essential, govern- ment must allow them a major voice in the determination of policy.
6. Finally, a cynic might suggest that some committees are set up solely to satisfy the public that government is concerned about a particu- lar problem and is doing something about it. The appointment of a com- mittee gives an excuse for postponing any action, and there is always the possibility that by the time the committee reports public interest will have shifted elsewhere and nothing need be done.14
Committees such as those in categories 4 and 5 have most impact upon policy making, since the non-official members are likely to be ex- perts with a substantial business or professional interest in ensuring that the government does what is right—or at least what is most convenient for themselves. If dissatisfied, they are in a position to embarrass the administration by public criticism. So a Head of department will normal- ly take great care to keep his committee happy and secure their agree- ment to all changes which he may put forward. Such support can be of great importance in getting the proposal accepted by the Secretariat and the Executive Council.
Government takes pride in the fine crop of committees it has raised. One White Paper boasted, ‘Public participation in the management of public affairs is already achieved, and to a very considerable extent, by a highly developed network of advisory bodies which are an important and very characteristic feature of the Hong Kong scene'. 15 This claim is
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