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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 14 March 1984
be
Whilst fully appreciating the need for the negotiations themselves conducted in confidence; both sides must be alive to the fragility of confidence and must give us a firm basis for believing that there is nothing to worry about.
The acceptability of any proposed settlement lies in whether people believe that its terms will be respected and will endure:
Faith cannot be created by orders;
Trust cannot be induced by the exercise of
power;
And no settlement which fails to engender trust can possibly preserve our stability and prosperity.
Finally, for those who questioned the wisdom of this debate, I believe it has amply justified itself.
Sir, I hope the Council will now adopt the Motion before us and that it will be accepted in the spirit in which it has been debated.
I note with pleasure that the Chief Secretary has indicated that my Official Colleagues will support this motion, and I thank the Chief Secretary for the tribute he has paid to my Unofficial Colleagues.
Sir, I beg to move.
Question put and agreed to.
Adjournment and next sitting
HIS EXCELLENCY the President:—In accordance with Standing Orders I now adjourn the Council until 2.30 p.m. on 28 March 1984.
Adjourned accordingly at twenty-one minutes to seven o'clock.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY D. S. P. PEARCE, ACTING GOVERNMENT PRINTER AT THE GOVernment PRINTING DEPARTMENT, JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG
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