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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
for markets. However, I think our effort in this area should be further extended, such as setting up a machinery similar to a liaison group in the libraries, UC complexes and other recreational facilities so that the public as well as our service users will have more channels to express their opinions.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
Mr. Wan Cho-Yin (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, during the month of December 1996 that just passed, Hong Kong has completed two important tasks. They are the election of the first Chief Executive and the election of 60 Members of the Provisional Legislature by the people of Hong Kong. The selection of the Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region and the formation of the Provisional Legislature are the important milestones in Hong Kong's return to her home country, signifying that the preparation for the setting up of the SAR has entered a new phase and Hong Kong is entering the new era of 'one country, two systems' and 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong'. According to the findings of some opinion polls, these two major events have got the approval of most Hong Kong people. However, some small buzzing flies who refuse to repent and oppose everything advocated by the Chinese Government are still trying their best to mutter curses and condemn others by making all kinds of personal attacks. I would like to give a piece of advice to them by quoting two well-written lines of a poem cited by Minister QIAN Qichen, 'while the apes on both sides of the river are crying incessantly, the boat has already gone past thousands of mountains.' Please turn back and repent for the sake of a smooth transition and a better future for Hong Kong! If you cannot wake up still, I am willing to spend a few more minutes to review the history with you so that you may awake and make mutual endeavours with us instead,
Hong Kong has been the territory of China since ancient times. In 1842, Britain took over Hong Kong by force and exercised colonial rule here. From that time onwards through one and a half centuries, Hong Kong has been under the autocratic rules of 28 Governors who were sent from Britain. These Governors were vested with the highest administrative power of Hong Kong whereas the Legislative Council was only a legislative advisory body responsible for advising the Governors. The final decision-making power of all affairs of Hong Kong were in the hands of these Governors from Britain. Such an administration-led political structure was beneficial to the colonial rule of Britain over Hong Kong. Under this political structure, Britain has continuously reaped huge political and economic benefits from Hong Kong.
By signing the Sino-British Joint Declaration with China in 1984, Britain could not but promise to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997. However, with the turn of the decade to the 90s, Britain made a wrong calculation on the situation in China and changed her policy towards China in the hope that the influence of her colonial rule can last in Hong Kong. Upon China's resumption of her sovereignty and Britain's loss of her executive and
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