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Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse Wai-chun and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui, in the Legislative Council today (October 9):
Question:
It was reported in the press that in September this year, the Government appointed members to the "Country and Marine Parks Board" (the Parks Board) for a new term, and on August 1, it uploaded the "Guidelines for the Chief Executive in Handling Potential Cases of Conflict of Interest and Acceptance of Advantages and Entertainment Concerning Politically Appointed Officials" (the Guidelines) onto the official web site of the Office of the Chief Executive. However, on both occasions, the Government had not, pursuant to the established practice, issued any press release. The media had twice enquired with the Chief Executive why the Government had not issued any press release on the appointment of members to the Parks Board, but the Chief Executive had not given a reply. The press report also pointed out that the Secretary for Development mentioned in his blog on September 8 that he attended on invitation a forum on land supply organised by a think tank in July this year, but the Development Bureau refused to give details of the forum when the media enquired about them. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) why the Government had not, pursuant to the established practice, issued any press release on the appointment of members to the Parks Board and on the implementation of the "Guidelines";
(b) whether it has assessed if the refusal of the Development Bureau to give details of the aforesaid forum is a violation of the Code on Access to Information; whether The Ombudsman has commenced an investigation into this matter; if it has not so assessed, whether it will immediately conduct such an assessment; and
(c) whether it has assessed if the aforesaid practices of the Government have undermined the transparency of policy implementation by the Government and the operation of the Political Appointment System, and whether these practices have infringed the public's right to information about the Government's operation?
Reply:
Mr President,
In its pursuit of "people-based" governance, the Government formulates various policy initiatives with the aim that they can be understood, supported and monitored by the public to better respond to the needs of the community. To this end, the Government, in adhering to the principle of openness and transparency, disseminates its messages to the general public through various media and channels.
As regards the way of disseminating information by individual bureaux and departments, the Government has all along been disseminating information through different channels, including government gazettes, press releases, web pages, press conferences, speeches at public events or meetings, and publications. In adhering to the aforementioned principle of openness and transparency, individual bureaux and departments may determine a channel/channels which are deemed most appropriate for disseminating its information, while taking into account the nature of information and the actual situation. The Information Services Department, including Secretariat Press Offices and departmental information units, renders professional support to departments on dissemination of information and publicity matters, such as providing an information release platform on the Internet, as well as rendering assistance in the drafting and issue of press releases, organisation of press conferences or the media arrangements for other public events.
For instance, for the past terms the Environmental Bureau (ENB) gazetted appointments of members to the Country and Marine Parks Board and uploaded the membership list onto the website of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for public inspection. This year's appointment was conducted in the same manner as in previous years. The ENB shall revisit the arrangement and consider issuing a press release for future appointments of members.
As regards the "Guidelines for the Chief Executive in Handling Potential Cases of Conflict of Interest and Acceptance of Advantages and Entertainment Concerning Politically Appointed Officials" (the Guidelines), they are part of the Government's work in its implementation of the recommendations in the "Report of the Independent Review Committee (the Committee) for the Prevention and Handling of Potential Conflicts of Interests" (the Report). When the Report was issued in May 2012, the Government expressed on the same day that it agreed with the recommendations in the Report in principle and would consider how to follow up and implement individual recommendations. In addition to the gradual implementation of the Committee's recommendations in the past year, including the uploading of the Guidelines onto the website of the Chief Executive's Office in August 2013 for public inspection, the Government is actively following up on the Committee's other recommendations.
According to our understanding from the Development Bureau (DEVB), when the think tank invited the Secretary for Development (SDEV) to the forum on land supply, it has indicated its intention to keep the event closed door to facilitate a candid exchange whereby the participants could express their views freely in their personal capacity. SDEV respected and agreed to the think tank's proposed arrangement. On account of its prior agreement with the organiser, the DEVB did not release any specific details of the think tank or those of the forum, and according to the organiser, there had been no change in its intention.
Besides, the DEVB will handle any request for the abovementioned information under the Code on Access to Information in accordance with the requirements of the Code, having regard to the involvement of third party information. DEVB so far has not received any enquiry from the Office of the Ombudsman about the matter. If approached, the DEVB would explain to the Ombudsman the agreement it had made with the think tank about the forum.
To further enhance communication with the public, the Government has, in the past decade, launched various new information services, including regular updating of departmental websites and wider use of information technology, such as Facebook and smart phone applications, to facilitate public understanding of departments' work and access to useful information.
We will continue to take heed of the views of Members and the community with the aim of enhancing the work of the Government in its dissemination of information and communication with the public.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:22
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