THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1984
12
→THE PEOPLE MUST HAVE A FAIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE MAJOR EXISTING SYSTEMS BEFORE THEY CAN DISTINGUISH WHETHER THE PLATFORMS PROPOSED BY THE CANDIDATES ARE FEASIBLE AND WHETHER THEY ARE BENEFICIAL TO HONG KONG AS A WHOLE.+
IN THE PAST, ONE DID NOT HAVE TO CARE ABOUT POLITICS.
ONE HAD ONLY TO WORK FOR A BETTER AND MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE. SO, DURING DISTRICT BOARD AND URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS, MOST PEOPLE WOULD ONLY CONSIDER WHAT THE CANDIDATES WOULD DO FOR THEM.
THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS THINKING.
+HOWEVER, SUCH A CONSIDERATION MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE WHEN IT IS APPLIED TO VOTING FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS IN FUTURE ELECTIONS BECAUSE BY THEN, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THIS AS WELL IF WE FOLLOW THE IR PROPOSALS, WE MAY BENEFIT AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT WHAT WILL BE THEIR EFFECTS ON THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE? SHE SAID.
+
+MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE IS ANY STUMBLING BLOCK ON THE PATH TO PROSPERITY AND STABILITY, ALL THEY HAVE NOW MAY COME TO NAUGHT, SHE SAID,
+THEREFORE, IT IS NOT WORTHWHILE FOR THEM TO OVERLOOK LONG-TER COMMUNITY INTERESTS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF SHORT-TERM BENEFITS.
+I CONSIDER THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND PROPOSE THAT IT SHOULD BE MADE THE MAJOR THEME OF CIVIC EDUCATION.
+IT IS AN URGENT TASK TO EARNESTLY PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION RESULTS MAY NOT BE SEEN UNTIL SEVERAL YEARS LATER.+
MRS FAN SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD MENTIONED IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE WOULD PLAY A FULL PART IN MAINTAINING A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS HONG KONG.
+I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU, AND I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON GOVERNMENT TO GIVE ITS FULLEST SUPPORT TO DEDICATED CIVIL SERVANT. SHE SAID.
+SUCH SUPPORT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THE POLICE IN PARTICULAR.
+THE SUPPORT I REFER TO IS TWO-SIDED.
+ONE WAS ON RESOURCES.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD. WHEREVER POSSIBLE. PROVIDE THE POLICE WITH ADEQUATE MANPOWER, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES SO AS TO ENABLE THE FORCE TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND FIGHT CRIME.
/THE OTHER