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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985
HE FURTHER PROPOSED THAT DURING THE 1985-86 SESSION, STANDING SELECT COMMITTEES BE APPOINTED WITH UNOFFICIALS AS CHAIRMEN TO COVER EDUCATION, CULTURE AND RECREATION, HOUSING, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES, TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENT OR SOME OF THESE AREAS.
NOTING THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER THREE YEARS TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF WIDER REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID COUNCILLORS WOULD HAVE TO PROVE TO LOCAL CITIZENS AND TO THE WORLD THAT WE HAD THE CAPABILITY OF GOVERNING OURSELVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT AND TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
+ IT IS AN UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN FULFIL THIS HISTORIC TASK, HE SAID.
MR CHEONG-LEEN STRESSED THAT CONFIDENCE IN OURSELVES AND FAITH IN THE FUTURE OF CHINA AND HONG KONG WOULD ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION BY 1997 AND INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
HE SAID CIVIC AND POLITICAL EDUCATION OF THE HONG KONG PUBLIC SHOULD BE A MATTER OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO INFORM AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS GROUPS AND INTERESTED CITIZENS ON KEY ISSUES AS THEY AROSE.
+THE MORE ACTIVE PUBLIC INTEREST THERE IS IN HONG KONG POLITICAL AFFAIRS, THE MORE COMMITTED WILL HONG KONG PEOPLE BE TO THE IR OWN FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF CHINA,+ HE SAID.
MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NO DOUBT KEEP ITS SIGHTS FIRMLY FOCUSSED ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE FOUNDATION FOR WHICH WAS OUR FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AND MARKET-ORIENTED ECONOMY,
+HONG KONG'S OWN BRAND OF CAPITALISM WILL HAVE TO RELATE TO AND MAKE ITS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO CHINA'S SOCIALIST MODERNISATION AND HIGHER LIVING STANDARDS FOR THE CHINESE PEOPLE.
+ IN OTHER WORDS, HONG KONG AFTER 1997 CAN BE THE PROVING GROUND WHEREBY CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM CAN CO-EXIST PRODUCTIVELY AND PEACEFULLY FOR ALL CONCERNED, HE SAID.
+ALREADY AS A START, IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, NEW LAND LEASES ARE BEING ISSUED TO EXPIRE IN THE YEAR 2047, AND THIS HAS REINFORCED CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, HE ADDED.
TURNING TO THE PROBLEM OF TRIADS, MR CHEONG-LEEN CALLED FOR MORE VIGOROUS ACTION BY GOVERNMENT, NOTING THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INSIDIOUS MENACE OF TRIADS AND THAT SOME COUNTRIES COUNTED THEM AS AN EXPORT PRODUCT FROM HONG KONG.
+ONE OF THE MOST INTRACTABLE AREAS WHERE TRIAD ACTIVITY IS ENDEMIC IS AMONG HAWKERS.
/+I WOULD