TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1984
BASIC TENETS OF SOCIAL SYSTEM VITAL
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FANG
IF THE MUCH AVOWED OBJECTIVE OF HONG KONG'S CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WAS TO BE ACHIEVED, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THE BASIC TENETS OF THE TERRITORY'S SOCIAL SYSTEM, DR THE HON HARRY FANG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
LEADING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON +SOCIAL SYSTEM AND THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG+, HE SAID, OUR SOCIAL SYSTEM HAS TAKEN MANY YEARS TO EVOLVE AND IT HAS BEEN WELL TRIED.
+LET US BE ALLOWED TO BUILD ON THIS FOUNDATION SO THAT OUR GENERATION AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME CAN CONTINUE TO HELP HONG KONG GROW AND PROSPER. IN THIS, LIES OUR BEST GUARANTEE FOR THE FUTURE.+
HE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE THE WISH OF ALL IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE BEST FEATURES OF THE SOCIAL SYSTEM SHOULD RE MAINTAINED.
+THESE MIGHT BE DESCRIBED AS OUR WORK ETHOS, INGENUITY AND CREATIVITY, TOLERANCE AND NON-VIOLENCE AND POSITIVE NON- INTERVENTION' ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT HONG KONG'S PHILOSOPHY OF HARD WORK HAD SERVED THE TERRITORY EXCEEDINGLY WELL AND HAD TO CONTINUE TO BE THE CORNERSTONE OF ITS PROSPERITY AND GROWTH IN FUTURE.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT HARD WORK ON ITS OWN WAS NOT ENOUGH AND THERE HAD TO BE KNOWLEDGE THAT ONE COULD KEEP THE JUST REWARDS OF ONE'S TOIL AND LABOUR.
+HONG KONG IS FILLED WITH SUCCESS STORIES OF MEN AND WOMEN OF VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WHO HAVE MADE IT TO THE TOP THROUGH THEIR OWN EFFORTS.
+SOCIAL MOBILITY HAS PROVIDED THE DRIVING FORCE AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH SUCH MOBILITY IS POSSIBLE IN HONG KONG MUST SURELY BE ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE FEATURES OF OUR SOCIETY.
+WE MUST ENSURE THAT OUR FUTURE SOCIAL FRAMEWORK WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SCOPE FOR SUCH MOBILITY.
+THE BEST GUARANTEE LIES IN THE PROVISION OF AN ADEQUATE AND PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, WHICH ENCOURAGES FREE INTELLECTUAL
N THE DEVELOPMENT TO THE BEST OF ONE'S ABILITY, AND FREEDOM SUBSEQUENT CHOICE OF WORK, HE SAID.
DR FANG ADDED THAT INITIATIVE ENTERPRISE AND CREATIVITY HAD PLAYED NO LESS A PART IN HONG KONG'S ACHIEVEMENTS.
/+THE UNLIMITED