MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1984
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ROLE IN DRAFTING BASIC LAW VITAL
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S.L. CHEN
IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR HONG KONG THAT THE PEOPLE HERE SHOULD HAVE A PLACE IN DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE HON ROGER LOBO'S MOTION ENDORSING THE AGREEMENT, MR CHEN SAID THIS WAS NECESSARY
SO AS TO ENSURE THAT DETAILS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT SHOULD BE ADEQUATELY REFLECTED IN THE BASIC LAW.
+TO THIS END, I URGE THE PUBLIC TO COME FORWARD AND BE POSITIVE IN AIRING THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT THE BASIC LAW SHOULD CONTAIN AND WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN ITS DRAFTING, HE SAID.
MR CHEN SAID SOME MAY SAY THAT ALTHOUGH THE DRAFT AGREEMENT HAD PROVIDED ON PAPER ALL THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR THE CONTINUITY OF OUR EXISTING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND LIFE-STYLE, THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING STILL REMAINED IN THE EATING.
+TO SUCH PEOPLE I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS POINTLESS TO TALK ABOUT PROOF UNLESS WE HAVE THE PUDDING FIRST.
+ I BELIEVE WE NOW HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS FOR THE PUDDING.
*THE ONLY THING WHICH REMAINS IS WHO SHOULD DO THE COOK ING?
+TO THIS END, I BELIEVE BOTH THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.+
MR CHEN SAID A GOOD AGREEMENT ALONE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN OUR PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
GIVEN THE NECESSARY SUPPORT WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG COULD RIGHTFULLY EXPECT FROM BOTH THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY RESTED SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG..
+NOW THAT THE LONG SHADOW OVER OUR LIVES HAS BEEN REMOVED, WE MUST MOVE AHEAD AGAIN AND GET BACK TO DOING WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING SO WELL RIGHT UP TO 1982, WHICH IS TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG AS A STRONG AND HEALTHY ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, HE SAID. +A STRONG AND HEALTHY ECONOMY IS THE SUREST GUARANTEE FOR OUR FUTURE SURVIVAL.+
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