20
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1986
+WE HAVE ATTAINED IN OUR POLITICAL MATURITY PROCESS THE WISDOM OF KNOWING WHAT WE WANT. THE JUDICIOUSNESS OF DISCERNING WHAT IS GOOD FOR US, AND THE WILL TO ACCOMPLISH OUR ASPIRATIONS.+
HE SAID THE DAY OF PARENTALISTIC DIRECTIVES HAD LONG GONE.
MR LAI SAID THAT THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY HONG KONG ENJOYED A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING TODAY.
THAT EFFECTIVENESS SHOULD BE PRESERVED IF POSSIBLE, BUT NOT AT ALL COSTS, AND CERTAINLY NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF DEMOCRACY.
HE CONSIDERED THAT AN ELECTED ELEMENT MUST BE SLOWLY EASED INTO THE COUNCIL TO EFFECT A SMOOTH TRANSITION.
MR LAI BELIEVED THAT PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION WAS A POSITIVE WAY OF ENSURING THAT REPRESENTATIVES RETURNED BY DIRECT ELECTION WOULD BE OF HIGH INTEGRITY AND ABILITY, AND WILLING TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THE BETTERMENT OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, AND NOT JUST TO SMALL SECTORS OF PEOPLE WITH VESTED INTERESTS.
MR LAI ALSO ADVOCATED REPEALING THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE TO FULFIL THE GOAL OF AN OPEN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID A THREAT TO THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS WAS EMBEDDED IN THE ORDINANCE.
+IF WE PRESERVE THE ORDINANCE WHICH MAY CURTAIL THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS TO REPORT WHAT IT SEES FIT AND SUBJECT IT TO THE THREAT OF CLOSURE, THE PRESS CAN NEVER BE AN EFFECTIVE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.
NEED FOR BALANCE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT POLICY
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WAS CRITICISED FOR ACTING AGAINST THE SPIRIT AND PRINCIPLES OF MAINTAINING A BALANCED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM TO PROVIDE MULTIPLE FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE HON POON CHI-FAI DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
/HE SAID