WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1982
PRESCRIPTION FOR THE FUTURE ****
THE GOVERNMENT'S CONFIDENT REDEDICATION TO THE PROGRAMMES OF SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT AND TO THE ECONOMIC POLICIES WHICH HAVE GIVEN US OUR FUNDAMENTAL PROSPERITY IS THE BEST PRESCRIPTION TO THE CURRENT CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON ROGER LOBO SAID TODAY.
OPENING THE DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MR LOBO SAID THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WOULD NOT BE WORTH MUCH AT ALL IF IT WERE NOT A PLACE WHICH HAS GIVEN A GREAT MANY PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO ENJOY ESSENTIAL HUMAN VALUES IN A STABLE BUT STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT.
THIS, HE STRESSED, IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN AND IS WELL WORTH PRESERVING.
MR LOBO POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT SITUATION PUTS A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY ON ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION BE THEY TYCOONS, PUBLIC SERVANTS, LEGISLATORS, ACADEMICS OR THE MEDIA.
+THIS IS NO TIME TO PUT OUR HEADS IN THE SAND BUT NEITHER IS IT A TIME TO OVER-DRAMATISE, TO SENSATIONALISE OR TO SPECULATE IDLY. HE WARNED.
IT IS A TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND TO STRIVE TO DO IT BETTER. WE MUST CARRY THE COMMUNITY WITH US AND THE INFORMATION GAP MUST NOT RE-OPEN.
+THIS ADMINISTRATION CARES FOR PEOPLE IT IS THE BEDROCK ON WHICH HONG KONG'S FORTUNES ARE FOUNDED; AND IT IS THE CUSTODIAN OF OUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.
+WE SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO MAKE THIS CLEAR, AND I AM NOT CONVINCED THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO DO SO AND TO INVEST IN ITS OWN IMAGE.+
REFERRING TO THE PLANS AND POLICIES ON SOCIAL PROGRAMME AREAS, MR LOBO SAID THEY UNDERLINE THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUED CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE AND RESTATE THE ENDEAVOURS WHICH WILL BE MADE TO MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, CRITICS AND OTHER FINGER POINTERS USUALLY FAIL TO APPRECIATE THE BASIC QUALITY THAT MAKES HONG KONG A MAGIC PLACE, NAMELY +CONTINUITY+, HE SAID +CONTINUITY MADE POSSIBLE BY THE RULE OF LAW AND A WILLINGNESS TO UPDATE WITHIN SENSIBLE LIMITS TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ALWAYS WITHIN THE RULE OF LAW.
IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S APPRECIATION FOR THE COUNCIL WORK DONE BEHIND THE SCENES BY THE UNOFFICIALS, MR LOBO SAID VERY LITTLE OF SUCH WORK IS ANY MORE SECRETIVE THAN ORDINARY BUSINESS SENSE WOULD DICTATE.
/IN FACT