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changes in the past 10 years, and there has been a much
greater effort to asses S and take account of public opinion.
But changing traditional attitudes take time, and public opinion itself has until recently be en
compliant.
pretty
6. Following the agreement the Hong Kong administration is
suddenly faced with a new
situation. They are themselves
The
11
very nervous of winding up as lame ducks, with the Chinese
in the driving seat.
perceived need for
firm
government" thus persists. But on the other hand, the
other
traditional
aspect
of
British
colonial
The re are
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
and therefore be consulted more thoroughly.
thus conflicting pressures,
and the administration will
have to walk a narrow path between too much consultation,
and too little. It is a difficult balance to strike, an d
they wil1 not always get it right. Their PR set-up generally not very impressive, and it is in
any case faced by a volatile and naive press which would be very difficult
to manage even with the best apparatus.
is
The future
7. It is not too difficult to describe the problems. It is much harder to prescribe the solutions.
8.
In
administration.
the
criticism
retired.
my view there are some positive factors within the
Some of the more traditionalist figures in
Hong Kong Government who were least toleran t of
and most impatient of public opinion have now
The new Chief Secretary and his Deputy are both
likely to be more responsive, an d 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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