THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1988
DEMONSTRATED THE
IN THE DEVELOPMENT
DEBATE SIR DAVID SAID THE
HAD ONCE AGAIN INTEREST AND STRENGTH OF FEELING AMONGST MEMBERS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
"I HOPE OVER THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD WE CAN ALSO UNITY OF VIEW ON THE BEST WAY FORWARD, HE SAID.
ACHIEVE
A
**
"THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT I AM TRYING TO STIFLE CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS POLICIES.
"THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS PRECIOUS TO HONG KONG AND THIS GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING IT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE."
END OF A BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DEBATE MARKED THE LONG PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCUSSIONS WHICH STARTED PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER NEARLY A YEAR AGO.
"WE NOW HAVE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED POLICIES AND PLANS TO TAKE FORWARD UNTIL 1991.
VERY
WITH
US
"THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE DONE IN PRACTICAL TERMS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE POLICIES AND PLANS ARE CARRIED THROUGH TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
"THAT PROCESS TOO WILL INVOLVE CONSULTATION AND DISCUSSION.
"BUT I HOPE WE CAN PUT BEHIND US THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE BROAD
HE SAID. THRUST OF OUR POLICIES AND PLANS AND THE TIMING OF THEM,
"
THE COMMITMENTS IN THE WHITE PAPER WERE CLEAR; THERE NO RETREAT FROM THEM.
WOULD BE
MAJORITY WITHIN MAJORITY OF MEMBERS OF THIS
"WE BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF A BROAD
A CLEAR THE COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY COUNCIL WOULD ENDORSE THAT VIEW."
SIR DAVID SAID LEGCO MEMBERS HAD A STRONG TRADITION OF UPHOLDING THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.
SOME PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL HAD CALLED INTO QUESTION THE MOTIVATION OF ITS MEMBERS.
TO "IN SO DOING THEY DO A GRAVE DISSERVICE
THE TRADITION OF WHICH WE CAN BE TRULY PUBLIC SERVICE IN HONG KONG, A TRADITION OF PROUD.
"LIKE SO MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF HONG KONG SOCIETY IT IS UNIQUE AND THE ENVY OF MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES, HE SAID.
MOVE
I
IN
CAME
то
SIR DAVID ALSO SAID THAT "AS WE
FORWARD TO CHANGES THIS COUNCIL" HE SINCERELY HOPED THAT MEMBERS, HOWEVER THEY BE THERE, WOULD WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF HONG KONG.
+
/HE ADDED: