21'd
3.
6.
And
written about
I
again, while 80 much has been said and
direct elections, little thought has been
given to. the sort of
of direct elections Hong Kong should have. And beyond that there is still too little discussion of the even more important question of how a fully elected legislature will operate in the future. Nor do I think that the community has been taking nearly enough interest in the drafting of the Basic Law. The people of Hong Kong know better than anyone how Hong Kong works because
we live here and make it work. The Basic Law is to be the blueprint for our capitalist system, our life-style, our freedoms' in the years to come. We must help the Basic Law Drafting Committee to get it right. And to do that effectively we need to speak with one voice on the things that really matter.
7.
:
ๆ
In the two yearS while the Joint Declaration was being negotiated, we, as a community, did pull together and did speak with one
one voice. Our unity gave us strength. The British and Chinese Governments could not ignore our
wishes, As
a result, the Joint Declafation contains much
of what we sought. But we have not done so well since the Joint Declaration was signed. As a community we have
wastad far too much time and energy in arguing among ourselves, in indulging in introspection, 10 chasing shadows, and in distrusting our own Government. We must
have raised doubts in the minds of many whether we are ready. to exercise the autonomy we have been promised.
Unless we get our Own act together there is little chance
of a successful transition, and a secure future for Hong
Kong.
8.
precedent
What is taking
decade to
highly successful, open
transfer of sovereignty;
place in Hong Kong has no
be
spent preparing a dynamic,
and articulate society for
from a nation with a long
$
XH SIS ST:21 88. 91 JHW
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