| Public consultation on further development of political appointment system ends today |
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Public consultation on the Government's proposal on the further development of the political appointment system ended today (November 30) after a four-month consultation period.
A spokesman for the Constitutional Affairs Bureau said that as at 5.30pm today, the Government had received over 200 written submissions during the consultation period. "More than half of the written submissions are from the general public. The rest are from Members of the Legislative Council and District Councils, political parties and political groups, civil service groups, think-tanks, youth and professional organisations, as well as other community organisations," he said. "The Government has consulted widely in the past four months to gauge the views of different sectors of the community on the proposals put forth in the consultation document. "Immediately after the consultation document was published, the Government explained the proposals and the rationale to the media, the relevant Panel of the Legislative Council, civil service groups and District Council Chairmen and Vice-chairmen. "We exchanged views with members of the Commission on Strategic Development at a workshop held in September. "We also attended seminars and dedicated sessions on the subject organised by think-tanks, youth and professional organisations, as well as other community organisations. "Further, we briefed members of district focus groups on the proposals and listened to their views," he said. The spokesman said that all views and feedback received during the consultation period would be studied carefully and analysed, with a view to making public the Government's proposed way forward during the first half of 2007. "The actual timing and pace of implementing the proposed arrangements will be subject to the views received during public consultation, resources available, and availability of individuals of the right calibre to fill the new positions," he said. Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2006 |