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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1988
FOR MANY CHINESE CADRES, HONG KONG WAS ONLY THE PERFECT PLACE OF RECREATION AFTER MANY YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
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INDEED, THE SLOGAN 'DANCING AND HOESE RACING WILL CONTINUE' WAS VERY INDICATIVE OF THEIR PERCEPTION OF HONG KONG, AND THEIR RATIONALE FOR WISHING HONG KONG TO EXIST UNDER A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.
LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE OFFENDED BY THAT SLOGAN, HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE A BETTER HONG KONG, WHAT WE NEEDED WAS A REVOLUTION IN OUR MINDS: OF BASIC VALUES AND OF FUNDAMENTAL PHILOSOPHY ON LIFE.
WHAT WE HAD IN HONG KONG WAS FAR FROM PERFECT, AND MANY THING WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED BEFORE 1997, HE SAID. IMPROVING
QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WAS ONE AREA OF CHANGE.
CHANGES MUST ALSO BE BROUGHT TO SOME OF THE DRACONIAN AND OUTDATED LAWS WHICH INHIBITED THE VARIOUS FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.
THESE LAWS INCLUDED THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, THE LAWS ON LOITERING, THE LAWS REQUIRING PEOPLE то CARRY WITH THEM PROOF OF IDENTITY AND THE FILM CENSORSHIP ORDINANCE.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE POWER OF MAGISTRATES NOT TO RECORD A CONVICTION SHOULD BE REINSTATED, AND THAT THE LAWS ON THE SPENT CONVICTION SCHEME BE AMENDED SO THAT THE POLICE WOULD DISCONTINUE GIVING PARTICULARS OF CONVICTIONS WHICH WERE CONSIDERED ΤΟ BE SPENT UNDER THE SCHEME.
MR LEE URGED THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ INTRODUCE "RIGHT TO KNOW" LEGISLATION. THE PRINCIPLE OF ACCOUNTABILITY WOULD REMAIN FOREVER MERELY A PIOUS ASPIRATION UNLESS THE PUBLIC HAD ACCESS TO A RELEVANT INFORMATION.
THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERALL REVIEW AND CODIFICATION OF THE LAW RELATING TO THE POWERS OF ARREST, DETENTION AND INTERROGATION BY ALL DISCIPLINARY AGENCIES.
MR LEE SAID IT WAS THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNOR AS THE HEAD OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CROP OF LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE: PEOPLE WITH PRINCIPLE, DEDICATION, COURAGE, CONVICTION, COMMITMENT, AND ABOVE ALL, PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO GOVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT TO TAKE FROM IT.
"WHAT WE MUST DO NOW AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IS TO ESTABLISH
IN HONG KONG A TRULY DEMOCRATIC AND REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT BEFORE 1997 SO AS TO MAKE ROOM FOR THESE PEOPLE TO REACH THE TOP, HE SAID.
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