MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
HE WENT ON TO SAY, WE RECOGNISE THAT IT IS IN THE NATURE OF ALL ADMINISTRATIONS TO BE FALLIBLE JUST AS IT IS IN THE NATURE OF ALL PEOPLE TO SUSPECT THIS FALLIBILITY AND TO DEMAND AN EVER UNATTAINABLE PERFECTION.
+OF COURSE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE CRITICAL OF THE IR GOVERNMENT. IT IS THEIR LOVE FOR AND PRIDE IN THIS PLACE THAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO CRITICISE AND TO LOOK PAST OUR ACHIEVEMENT TO THAT EVER HIGHER PLATEAU BEYOND.+
+WE MAY NOT ALWAYS LIKE WHAT WE READ. BUT IT DOES INFLUENCE OUR JUDGEMENT AND IT FREQUENTLY HAS A BEARING UPON OUR POLICIES, + HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION THOUGH NOT DEPENDENT UPON AN ELECTORATE TO VOTE THEM INTO OFFICE, DID HAVE THEIR OWN SYSTEM OF +CHECKS AND BALANCES+.
MR TSAO SAID HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS IN CLOSER TOUCH WITH THE GRASSROOTS OF THIS COMMUNITY THAN ARE MOST OTHER GOVERNMENTS ADMINISTERING WITHIN MORE CONVENTIONAL POLITICAL FRAMEWORKS.
HE ADDED THAT AN OBVIOUS REASON IS THAT HONG KONG IS A RELATIVELY SMALL, COMPACT AND SELF-CONTAINED TERRITORY WHERE IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM THE PEOPLE.
+LESS OBVIOUS ARE THE MYRIAD CHANNELS OF CONSULTATION WHICH THIS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYS TO SOUND OUT OPINION ON EVERY ASPECT OF ITS POLICIES.
+BEYOND THE INCREASINGLY POWERFUL MACHINERY OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, AND EVEN BEYOND THE RELATIVELY NEW BUT FAST DEVELOPING MACHINERY OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THESE CHANNELS EMBRACE A WHOLE RANGE OF COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY BODIES, REPRESENTING JUST ABOUT EVERY PROFESSION, OCCUPATION AND SHADE OF INTEREST IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
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AMBASSADOR ARRIVING TOMORROW
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THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING (DESIGNATE), MR RICHARD EVANS, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (TUESDAY) FOR A VISIT.
WHILE IN HONG KONG, MR EVANS WILL MEET MEMBERS OF UMELCO, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION. HE WILL ALSO GO ON A HELICOPTER TOUR AND VISIT A NEW TOWN AND A FACTORY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MR EVANS WILL BE ARRIVING BY FLIGHT BA 03 TOMORROW (TUESDAY), ETA 12.55 PM. A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN. THOSE ASSIGNED TO COVER HIS ARRIVAL SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 11,45 AM. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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