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Public Participation politics | consultation | stakeholder s What i s public participation ? Public participation mean s different things to different people . To some people , participatio n mean s voting i n elections. To others, i t mean s joinin g a politica l part y an d standin g fo r election. I t migh t mea n joinin g a Rotar y Clu b o r a n environmental interes t grou p o r doin g voluntee r wor k wit h the elderly. Another wa y o f lookin g a t publi c participatio n i s t o se e i t a s taking part i n the public decision-making process . For example, you ma y b e ver y concerne d abou t th e qualit y o f educatio n i n Hong Kong . You ma y b e concerne d abou t th e progres s o f a public works project. You may disagree with a government polic y that affect s th e genera l busines s environmen t i n a n advers e way. You ma y b e concerne d abou t povert y an d wis h t o collec t donations t o hel p th e disadvantage d member s o f society . I n each o f thes e examples , yo u ca n expres s you r view s a s a n individual o r as a member o f a group wit h the ai m o f changin g government polic y and practice. We see publi c participatio n a s a major rit e of passage for Hon g Kong people in the process of evolving from passive bystander s Getting Heard Public Participation to activ e citizens . W e hop e thi s Handboo k wil l hel p ordinar y peopl e become activ e participant s i n the decision-making process . Why participate ? Public participatio n i s essentia l becaus e virtuall y ever y decisio n tha t the government make s affects someone. Decisions are being made all the time about education, economics, employment, public health, social services, transport, the environment an d so on. By participating i n the political proces s yo u retai n som e elemen t o f contro l abou t th e thing s that ar e importan t t o you . Moreover , strengthenin g ou r sens e o f community i s essential - an d we believ e this i s best achieved throug h participation. Participation i s no t s o difficult . Man y Hon g Kon g peopl e alread y participate i n th e politica l proces s - b y readin g th e newspapers , listening t o curren t event s show s an d talking abou t publi c issue s wit h their families, friends and colleagues. Keeping yourself informe d abou t what i s going on i s a vital first step. Being informe d will hel p you lear n more abou t particula r issues . Talking t o other s wil l giv e yo u a wide r perspective o n events . Othe r peopl e wil l hav e a differen t view . Understanding th e dept h an d breadt h o f a n issu e i s importan t i f yo u want to be an agent for change. At this point, you are only a step away from becomin g a more active citizen. What i s politics ? There are many definitions of politics. Here are two examples: "Politics is th e ar t o f th e possible " an d "Politic s i s abou t power. " I n thi s Handbook, w e provid e idea s o n ho w t o influenc e th e politica l syste m within which publi c decision s ar e made . However you define politics , it is a dynamic process that is happening all around us every day. People who believ e that politic s don't concer n them are simply wrong! Politic s is abou t th e proces s o f makin g decision s o n publi c issue s an d thi s affects everyone . Is that all ? Hong Kon g i s a par t o f China , whic h i s a membe...

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