TNAG-2329-FCO40-3373-Hong-Kong-contacts-with-academics-and-writers-1991 — Page 41

(g)

(h)

It is a dimension which no right thinking member of a civilised society can tolerate.

This is alarming, if true. widespread the survey was.

45

tt

I have no idea how efficient and

It is the sort of issue which needs discussion at this stage of Hong Kong's history.

Checks and Balances in Public Policy-Making. Notions of "neutrality" in public policy making and discussion of procedures such as the role of parliamentary safeguards, select committees and independent auditors might be useful. Perhaps discussion of specific powers which assist in policy-making, such as the power to compel the submission of evidence, could be a practical discussion. This could benefit OMELCO, incidentally. Also important might be the promotion of efficiency and effectiveness in the civil service, and methods of achieving this. Perhaps the British Prime Minister's Efficiency Unit could provide ideas on this subject. (See paragraph 5.16.)

The Development of National and Regional Economic and Social Policy. This is a very sensitive issue, for it involves the relationship between the centre and regions. I wonder if there are areas in which local and central government administrators from the PRC and elsewhere might benefit from training in the U.K.? The Chinese situation is of interest in particular at present, as the following quotation will indicate:-

"According to the China Daily, a national planning conference

will be held soon to draft China's programme for the next ten years. The important point here is that Premier Li Peng, who made the announcement, indicated that the leadership intends to further enhance the role of the market. However, in the key areas of communications, energy and raw materials,

the government will stress planning and macroeconomic control This ties in with our expectations of the layout of the Eighth Five Year Plan, although one must bear in mind that no dramatic improvements to the reform programme are likely while China's leaders walk the tight-rope between political stability and economic development. The long-awaited Party

Plenum will be held once this conference is over.

Is there a regional aspect to the above? How does Hong Kong see benefit accruing?

(i)

Practical Politics, Commercial Judgment, and the Injection of Environmental Criteria into the Process of Economic and Political Decision-Taking. The setting of environmental priorities within government is an important priority, as is the relevant impact on investment decisions and economic policy-making. I would like to talk to people in the Hong Kong government about this in due

course.