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would face the certain reversion to Chinese sovereignty
with no promise of autonomy. There is no alternative
to it and we must unite as a community to make a go
of it..
Of course, those who want to will
their
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always be able to support the thesis that the Joint Declaration will not work and that the governments
concerned cannot be trusted. But what good does that
do for the majority of the six million people in Hong 11 Kong who have no option of leaving? What good will it do for the rising generation to foster despair and despondency when what young people everywhere
need is hope and inspiration ? If we do not pull ourselves together, if we continue to argue and bicker among ourselves, if we try to divide this community into the haves and have-nots, rich and poor, Chinese
and non-Chinese, elected and non-elected
we risk
becoming a fragmented community paralysed by confusion, self-doubt and suspicion. If we cannot reconcile 21 our differences, what chance have we of building a future together? All of us in this Council and everyone involved in public affairs in Hong Kong carry a heavy responsibility for its people. We owe it to them to work together for the future well-being of
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26 us all. Of course we have and shall continue to
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our
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り
()
Constructive
have out disagreements but we must not dissipate our energies by pursuing them to the last syllable. criticism is fine but carping criticism that will never
let go is demoralising and distracts us all from the most important issues that face the community as a whole. Until recently this has not been a feature of Hong Kong. Perhaps it owes something to a reluctance
But who can doubt that the future
will not be ours unless we face that future positively
and confidently, and show our determination to work
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to face the future.
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