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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1987
"WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD TAKE PART IN THE VOTING IF DIRECT ELECTIONS WERE INTRODUCED IN 1988, 39 PEOPLE REPLIED THAT THEY WILL NOT VOTE.
TI
UNDER SUCH A CLIMATE OF GENERAL POLITICAL APATHY, MR CHEONG SAID: "SHOULD WE NOT ASK OURSELVES WHETHER OR NOT IT IS ADVISABLE TO DRAW VERY FIRM CONCLUSIONS RIGHT NOW?"
"IS THE OPINION CLAMOURING FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 REALLY THAT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WISHES OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE AT LARGE?"
MR CHEONG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG'S RETURN SOVEREIGNTY WAS ANOTHER FACT.
TO CHINESE
"THE FACT WILL NOT BE ALTERED BY SUDDENLY THROWING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OPEN," HE SAID. "THAT FACT WILL NOT BE ALTERED NO MATTER HOW SOME OF US WOULD SINCERELY HARBOUR DISTRUSTS ON CHINA'S INTENTIONS OR HER ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE CONCEPT OF ONE-COUNTRY-TWO- SYSTEMS.
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"WE SHOULD WORK ΤΟ EFFECT THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTION TO WHAT WE PRESENTLY ENJOY. THERE IS NO POINT TO PRETENDING THAT THE 1980'S AND THE 90'S ARE AN INDEPENDENT, ISOLATED ERA IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG.
ΤΟ
"THERE IS NO POINT TO SPREADING THAT FALSE ILLUSION. IT IS UNREALISTIC TO PRETEND THAT THE BASIC LAW IS NOT DIRECTLY RELEVANT THE PRESENT DEBATE OVER POLITICAL REFORMS."
"THIS IS A TRANSITION PERIOD, AND ANY CHANGE THAT WE MAKE, EVERY ACTION THAT WE TAKE, MUST BE DONE WITH THE AIM OF TRYING TO MAKE 1997 A NON-EVENT .
-
'THE ACTUAL DATE OF HANDING BACK SOVEREIGNTY TO CHINA SHOULD BE VIEWED LIKE ANY OTHER DAY IN HONG KONG, WITH PEOPLE GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS OF WORKING, PLAYING, STUDYING, AND STRIVING, HE SAID.
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MR CHEONG SAID HE WOULD HOPE THAT THE GOALS OF THIS SOCIETY WERE THE SAME GOALS REPEATED AGAIN AND AGAIN BY LEADERS IN BRITAIN, CHINA, AND HONG KONG, AND THE SAME GOALS WHICH ECHOED ENDLESSLY IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE ORDINARY CITIZENS OF HONG KONG,
"THOSE GOALS ARE FOR STABILITY AND PROSPERITY,
**
NOW, IN 1997,
AND FAR INTO THE FUTURE. THE FUTURE OF THIS TERRITORY IS CONTAINED IN THOSE TWO WORDS. WE NEED STABILITY SO THAT OUR PEOPLE CAN HAVE PROSPERITY. WE NEED PROSPERITY SO OUR PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT WHICH HAS MADE THIS CITY GREAT: STRIVE FOR EVER BETTER LIVING STANDARDS FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.
/"IT IS
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