P
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1986
CONFRONTATION A THREAT TO AUTONOMY
*****
THE AUTONOMY PROMISED BY CHINA COULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF HONG KONG SHOWS ITSELF UNWORTHY BY PUTTING ITS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PEACE AND STABILITY AT RISK, THE HON SELINA CHOW SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
+THE SUCCESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION DEPENDS ON A FOSTERING OF TRUST AND RESPECT BETWEEN OURSELVES AND CHINA,+ MRS CHOW SAID.
MRS CHOW WAS SPEAKING IN THE POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
SHE DISPUTED THE CONTENTION THAT DEMOCRACY COULD ACT AS A BUFFER AGAINST COMMUNISM AND CRITICISED ADVOCATES OF DEMOCRACY AGAINST COMMUNISM FOR KNOWINGLY PITCHING HONG KONG AGAINST CHINA, AND ASSUMING CONFRONTATION AS A NECESSARY TACTIC.
+EVERY DAY THE SEED OF DOUBT AND SUSPICION IS CAST ON THE GOVERNMENT, ON CHINA, AND ALL THOSE WHO HAPPEN TO DISAGREE WITH THE PUSH FOR CHANGE,+ SAID MRS CHOW.
+THE PREVAILING DISTRUST CONSUMES MUCH OF THE ENERGY AND POSITIVE THINKING WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CHANNELLED INTO ENTERPRISE AND PRODUCTIVITY.
+WE ARE BEING LED TO ERODE OUR OWN RAISON D'ETRE, SHE ADDED.
IN RESPONSE TO THE CONCERN EXPRESSED IN THE COUNCIL YESTERDAY ABOUT THE MANY PROFESSIONALS LEAVING HONG KONG FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE OVERSEAS, MRS CHOW SAID THAT THEY DID SO BECAUSE THEY WERE MORE WORRIED THAT INTERNAL INSTABILITY WOULD SET IN OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS SHOULD CONFRONTATION IN LOCAL POLITICS WOULD BECOME THE ORDER OF THE DAY.
+UNLIKE MR MARTIN LEE, THEY DO NOT SEE DIRECT ELECTION AS THE PANACEA. ON THE CONTRARY, THEY SEE THIS AS A THREAT TO THE VALUES THAT UNDERLINE THE UNIQUE HONG KONG SYSTEM, WHICH MAY BE UNDEMOCRATIC, BUT CERTAINLY POSSESSES THE RARE COMBINATION OF FREEDOM AND EFFICIENCY.
+HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS PRIDED ITSELF AS THE MOST PRAGMATIC OF SOCIETIES, COMING TO DECISION QUICKLY AND QUIETLY, WHILE CARRYING FOR THE MOST PART THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE.
+WE HAVE RISEN ABOVE THE SOUND AND FURY WHICH TEND TO CHARACTERISE FOREIGN PARLIAMENTS AND AT THE SAME TIME MANAGE TO GET THE JOB DONE,+ SHE SAID.
/REFERRING TO