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1997 by firstly making them gradually change their lifestyle, accustomed
to reduced freedoms and obedient to Government's new systems, so that
they would not feel too painful when facing abrupt changes then.
So against this background, the Government is prepared to set
up the Objectionable Publication Tribunal to wipe out pornographic
publications. People worry that this is the forerunner of the ban on
freedom of speech because the definition of objectionable publications
may in future extend to cover publications that do not meet with the
political stand of the Government.
The brewing for the establishment of a media council all the
more causes the fear that the Government would directly control the mass
media through the council.
Such worry is appreciated. Now that the 50-year-no-change has
already been laid down in the document, it goes without saying that this
should be entirely carried out to ensure that the freedoms and the legal
and political systems currently enjoyed would not be reduced. Only in
this way will the lifestyle of Hong Kong not be interfered with or gradually
changing.
Nevertheless, the Hong Kong Government may have its own thinking.
Before 1997, the Hong Kong Government will not become a lame duck. To avoid
this, the Hong Kong Government strives to forestall any possibility for
Beijing to intervene Hong Kong's administration in the transition period
on the one hand, and on the other to quash the excitement of the Hong Kong
people arising from the forthcoming switch of political power which prompts them to criticize the Government for its improper measures and keep
up the trend to speak up on Government's administration. In order to
maintain the authoritativeness of the Hong Kong Government and of its
political machinery, it is necessary for the Hong Kong Government to
strengthen its legislative umbrella and to reduce the stipulated
privileges of civil rights and press freedom. Moreover, the Hong Kong
Government does not have any moral obligation. It would be even better
if the public are made to suspect that it is somebody else who restrains
the freedoms enjoyed by the Hong Kong people. In re-directing the sphere
of auspicion to Beijing, the Hong Kong Government has constructed a most
credible fable.