WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1986
CONSENSUS VITAL TO STABILITY DUNN
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THE SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS IS AS ESSENTIAL AS EVER TO THE SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG, THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON LYDIA DUNN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
WHEN STRONG DIFFERENCES OF VIEW ARE NOT RESOLVED IN A FREE SOCIETY, SHE SAID, THERE CAN BE NO MOVEMENT, NO SOLUTION, NO ADVANCE.+
MISS DUNN WAS LEADING THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS.
SHE NOTED THAT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT HOW PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE APPLIED IN PRACTICE.
+ BUT ARGUMENTS ABOUT PRACTICAL APPLICATION MUST NEVER BE ALLOWED TO OBSCURE THE PRINCIPLES THEMSELVES, NOR TO BECOME SO HEATED OR SO PERSONALISED THAT COMPROMISE BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE AND THE FUNDAMENTAL FRAMEWORK IS PUT AT RISK,+ SHE SAID.
+THE SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS THROUGH DEBATE AND REASONED COMPROMISE IS THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH WE CAN IN THE LONG RUN PRESERVE OUR STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
+ON THE WAY TO THAT CONSENSUS THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ARGUING DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.+
MISS DUNN SAID DEBATE WAS HEALTHY AS IT TENDED TO EXPOSE THE WEAKNESSES AND THE STRENGTHS OF DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW AND REVEAL THE COMMON GROUND.
+ IT REPRESENTS CONSENSUS WAS NEVER IMPOSED. SHE STRESSED. AGREEMENT FREELY ENTERED INTO FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY ON THE BEST AVAILABLE WAY FORWARD.+
HONG KONG ALREADY HAD BASIC CONSENSUS ABOUT THOSE FUNDAMENTALS ESSENTIAL TO THE MAINTENANCE OF ITS FREE SOCIETY AND OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THAT SOCIETY, SHE SAID, ADDING +WE CALL IN TO QUESTION THE ELEMENTS OF THAT CONSENSUS AT OUR PERIL.+
MISS DUNN NOTED THAT IN HONG KONG'S MORE OPEN, MORE LIVELY, MORE ARGUMENTATIVE, MORE DISPUTATIOUS SOCIETY IT MIGHT WELL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE CONSENSUS.
EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WAS ENTITLED TO HAVE HIS OWN VIEW AND
+BUT AT TO ARGUE HIS CASE AS STRONGLY AS HE LIKED, SHE SAID. THE SAME TIME WE MUST RECOGNISE THAT WHEN STRONG DIFFERENCES OF VIEWS ARE NOT RESOLVED IN A FREE SOCIETY THERE CAN BE NO MOVEMENT, NO SOLUTION, NO ADVANCE.+
COUNCILLORS REPRESENTED A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERESTS AND THOSE INTERESTS MUST INEVITABLY CONFLICT AT TIMES, SHE SAID.
/+WE SHALL