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changes in the
greater effort
!
past 10 years, and there has been a much
to asses S an d take account of public
But changing traditional attitudes take time, and
public opinion itself has un til recently be en pretty
opinion.
compliant.
6.
Following the agreement the Hong Kong administration is
situation. They are themselves
suddenly faced with a new
very nervous of winding up
in the driving seat.
government" thus persists.
other
traditional
a 8 lame ducks, with the Chinese
The perceived need for "firm
But on the other hand, the
aspect
of
British
colonial
administration, the acceptance of a responsibility to do
the best they can for the local people, leads to acceptance.
that the latter must play an increasing part in government
therefore be consulted
more thoroughly.
and
thus
conflicting pressures,
The re are
and the administration will
have to walk a narroW path between too much
much consultation,
an d too little. It is a difficult balance to strike, an d
they will not always get it right. Their PR set-up is
generally not very impressive, and it is in any case faced
by a volatile and naïve press which would be very difficult
to manage even with the best apparatus.
་
The
future
7. It is not too difficult to describe the problems.
is much harder to prescribe the solutions.
It
8. In my view there are some positive factors with in the
administration. Some of the more traditionalist figures in
the Hong Kong Government who we re least tolerant of
criticism and most impatient of public opinion have now
retired. The new Chief Secretary and his Deputy are both
likely to be more responsive, and together with the
Governor, who has of course a very well developed political
nose, they should provide the nucleus of an administration
rather more sensitive to public opinion.
tone
which
should
administration.
have
an
effect
They will set a
throughout the
They will need to give conscious thought
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