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Up to now the link mechanism has worked and has worked remarkably well. If I recall correctly, when the link was introduced in 1983, the exchange rate of 7.8 was, by Government's own admission, a best guesstimate only. Whilst Government did stress that it would not be looking to adjust it from time to time, it did not however make the point that it could never be changed! So far there has been little, if any, suggestion that the link mechanism should be abolished, but rather that the system be improved or that the current rate be reviewed and readjusted to a more realistic level.
In adopting now, an intransigent position that the link cannot be altered, the Government must surely have important economic and political reasons. However, it has so far failed to explain to the rest of us what there are.
The result is that its determination to defend the current rate at all costs is seen by some critics to be simply a matter of stubbornness or even irrationality.
For the link to succeed and to be accepted by the community and by our trading partners, it is obvious that much better communication from the Government is urgently required. It is particularly puzzling to hear senior officials say, as one did recently, that the link must either be maintained where it is, or abolished altogether.
I do not say the Government's stand is necessarily incorrect. What I do say is that the Government has not so far succeeded in communicating to the rest of us all the reasons why it has taken this entrenched position.
If the Government cannot convince Hong Kong people with logic that this policy is vital to our interests, how can it hope to convince our trading partners?
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support your motion.
MR. PAUL T. K. YOUNG (in English): Mr. Chairman, one privilege of being the last to speak after the many learned views of my colleagues is that brevity is often welcome. I shall therefore just take a few minutes not to pontificate but to highlight and remind the voter and campaigner a few of the many points concerning their important role and duty in relating to the coming election in March this year.
Once again, the election offers the citizen of Hong Kong, aside from their incessant quest for more material wealth and greater comfort, an opportunity to realize and fulfill their obligations of citizenship. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the goodness and thoughtfulness of human being when passing their rights to their representative.
Citizens should be clear that the electoral process is one of the main channels through which democracy expresses itself and that election is the means of politics rather than its ends. On one hand, candidate and campaigner have a duty to clarify and inform the voter, and on the other, voter should exercise their right to obtain from their candidates and their broad coalition clear aims, policies, and actions.
Most tend to 'choose from habits', and from general impression, gathered through others' mind and interest - for example, their favourite newspaper, magazine, television program, survey, and etc. It is therefore important for the voters, even for the 'converted', to provide himself or herself a chance of a balanced judgement by making special effort to weigh alternative views with open mind and with care. Your wise choice of representative to participate in the governing of Hong Kong is accountable and will have direct bearing on the type of society your children and grandchildren will inherit. Citizens should therefore keep their narrow self-interest in check and exercise their social conscience when casting their vote.
With these words, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
CHAIRMAN (in English): Ladies and Gentlemen, we come to the end of this year's debate. As agreed in the Standing Committee I will exercise the Chairman's right of reply at the next meeting of the Council on 9 February. That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 9 February 1988 at 2.30 p.m.
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