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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MRS. CHOW CHEUNG WAI-PING (in Cantonese):- Chairman, I am attending the Urbco Annual Debate for the first time. Please let me take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to Councillors who have helped me to know, and get familiar with Urbco work, and to staff-members of Urban Services Department, with whom I have been trying to do a good job for city districts.
Today I also want to say something about democracy and the prosperity of Hong Kong and actually what I have to say is largely in line with what the senior members have already been talking about.
Democracy means participation in politics by the majority. The way to that is to let people have the rights to elect and to be elected with regard to admission into policy-making bodies. Its goal is to uphold different forms of freedom, including freedom of speech, freedom of publication, freedom of assembly, freedom of organization, and freedom of business. In the case of Hong Kong, it has also the mission of further consolidating and developing the already established prosperity and stability. However, to carry a bona fide democratic society through, it is necessary that: (1) the economic foundation is firm and (2) the people have relatively high education level. As far as Hong Kong is concerned, the first condition is basically well-established whilst the second condition is still developing. How far and fast should democracy progress? I think there are two factors for us to consider.
First of all, Hong Kong has never been, and will never be, an independent state. It cannot apply mechanically other nations' democratic modes. In the past, the Hong Kong government maintained the rule by the few, allowing only a very low level of democracy. However, it adopted the policy of balancing all the different forces, succeeding in giving protection to the interests of different parties. Furthermore, the Chinese government applies to Hong Kong the policy of 'maintaining the status quo'. So there appears in Hong Kong a subtle equilibrium. Relatively speaking, Hong Kong government is quite efficient and allows a certain degree of participation by the people. Because of other objective factors and subtle relations, Hong Kong has gradually developed into a prosperous place in Asia. The people of Hong Kong are also happy to stay. By 1997, however, some of the existing favourable factors will inevitably disappear. During the next ten years, there will surely be higher level of democracy in Hong Kong as the society progresses. I think the Chinese government, for the sake of the nation's general interests, still wants a Hong Kong government that is highly efficient, and capable of coping with the interests of all parties and, at the same time, contributing to China. So the movement of democratization cannot progress in total disregard of the aforesaid factors.
Secondly, we should understand that the democratic political system of the West is the fruit of incessant development over several hundred years and is based on the advanced social economy of the West. If great efforts are used to raise the level of democracy without a strong economic foundation, things will only become worse, plunging the society into disorder and unrest. The reason is that as the level of democracy goes up, so will the expenditure on social welfare.
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As a result, tax rates will also have to be raised. Low tax rate is one of the factors contributing to Hong Kong's economic prosperity. If Hong Kong rapidly takes on Western democracy, it is really doubtful if it can retain its position as one of the four Asian small dragons. Moreover, to materialize democratization, it is not enough to have firm economic foundation as it is also necessary to have many good leaders and a citizenry possessing reason, understanding public affairs and actively taking part in politics.
In Hong Kong, the political system, social structure, operational procedures and administrative methods are all gradually formed in line with Hong Kong's economic foundation. So future political reforms should be based on Hong Kong's actual foundation. It has got to be democracy of Hong Kong style. That is to say, it mustn't obstruct its economic growth and must contribute to China. I, therefore, am of the view that the schedule and timing for the implementation of democratization may extend beyond the year 1997. It is risky and unnecessary to forcibly realize democratization in 10 years in spite of the fact that democratic concepts and targets take a longer time to mature. It is indeed necessary to promote democratic political system, but it has got to progress gradually and in good sequence.
It is not our will that determines the speed of the progress of reform; it has to be determined by the point as to whether or not objective conditions are mature. The reason is that haste makes waste. But it does not mean that in this we should wait passively. On the contrary, we should make preparation actively.
I think the promotion of civic education is one of the active approaches.
At present, civic education has already progressed from the budding stage to the blooming stage. But it seems that people do not place much hope in the positive effects that it can or should have. Are some people afraid that civic education may exacerbate the democratic trend? Perhaps I am too sensitive. I fully support the saying that 'Civic education is everybody's duty'. I have written on its scope, pointing out that civic education should stress comprehensiveness in that it should start from the comprehension of Hong Kong and go right down to the understanding of, and identification with China. If we firmly grasp the real nature of civic education and seriously and continuously promote it, then in ten years, Hong Kong people can, in addition to having in their minds the groundwork of Western democratic spirit, understand the point that it is impossible to be independent of China and know fully Hong Kong's special position and mission. By then, we can have a better foundation for the implementation of higher level of democratic political reforms. Full-scale direct election will naturally be practical and practicable.
Viewing civic education from the standpoint of an educationalist, I surely think that the responsibility of schools is important. However, viewing it from the standpoint of an Urbco member, I also believe that there is much for Urbco to do in this area.
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