WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1987
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DUNN MOVES MOTION ON GREEN PAPER
SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON LYDIA DUNN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE INEVITABLE BECAUSE THE JOINT DECLARATION HAS COMMITTED IT ΤΟ THE GREATEST CHANGE OF ALL.
MISS DUNN WAS REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT THE LEGISLATURE OF THE SAR IS TO BE CONSTITUTED BY ÉLECTIONS WHEREAS THE PRESENT COUNCIL IS ONLY PARTLY ELECTED.
"NOW OF COURSE WE COULD SAY NO FURTHER CHANGE FOR 1988," SHE SAID, "BUT IN THE LONG RUN, NO CHANGE IS NOT AN OPTION."
"THE LONGER WE POSTPONE FURTHER CHANGE, THE GREATER WILL BE THE PRESSURE FOR IT AND THE SHORTER THE TIME AVAILABLE ΤΟ SEE IT SMOOTHLY INTRODUCED, SHE ADDED.
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IN MOVING A MOTION AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL "THAT THIS COUNCIL TAKES NOTE OF THE GREEN PAPER : THE 1987 REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT", MISS DUNN STRESSED THAT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
"STABILITY WITH A LESS THAN PERFECT SYSTEM IS PREFERABLE TO THE INSTABILITY THAT IS AN INEVITABLE PRODUCT OF SUDDEN RADICAL CHANGE, HOWEVER CLOSE TO PERFECTION THE NEW SYSTEM MAY BE SEEN TO ITB PROPONENTS, SHE SAID.
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HOWEVER, SHE WAS QUICK TO EXPLAIN THAT STABILITY IN A HUMAN SOCIETY WAS OBTAINED NOT BY TRYING TO SET THINGS IN CONCRETE, BUT BY ALLOWING ITS SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGES THAT OCCURRED IN SOCIETY.
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SHE DESCRIBED EDUCATION" AS THE MOST POTENT FORCE FOR CHANGE, CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY "PROSPERITY".
SHE POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE THE TWO HAD GONE HAND IN HAND FOR MANY YEARS PAST, THE CHANGES IN HONG KONG'S SOCIETY AND POLITICAL SYSTEM HAD NOT BROUGHT ABOUT INSTABILITY.
"THEY HAVE INSTEAD ENSURED CONTINUED STABILITY. THAT, ABOVE ALL, WE MUST PRESERVE, MISS DUNN SAID.
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EXPRESSING HER VIEWS ON DIRECT ELECTIONS, MISS DUNN POINTED OUT THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WAS NOT A "REVOLUTIONARY INNOVATION" BUT AN "EVOLUTIONARY STEP"
"WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT INTRODUCING DIRECT ELECTIONS TO HONG KONG, BUT ONLY ABOUT EXTENDING AN EXISTING ELECTORAL PRACTICE TO THIS COUNCIL," SHE SAID.
/DIRECT ELECTIONS