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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1990
MR MATHEWS SAID THE ULTIMATE VALUE OF THE RULE OF LAW LAY IN THE ABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY TO COMPREHEND IT AND IN THE WILLINGNESS OF THE COMMUNITY TO CONSENT TO IT AND TO ABIDE BY IT.
HE SAID THE RULE OF LAW WAS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN ANY MODERN AND CIVILISED COMMUNITY.
LARGE, ΤΟ ITS
"IT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY AT GOVERNMENT AND TO INDIVIDUAL HUMAN AFFAIRS, MR MATHEWS SAID.
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HE SAID THAT LAW WAS TOO OFTEN SEEN BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS MYSTERIOUS AND LAWYERS HAD BEEN IN PART RESPONSIBLE FOR ENCOURAGING THAT MYSTIQUE IN THE PAST.
"LAW MUST NOT BE SEEN TO BE REMOTE OR MYSTERIOUS BECAUSE IF THE COMMUNITY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE LAW, WHAT IT IS OR HOW IT OPERATES, THEN SURELY PEOPLE CANNOT TRULY RESPECT IT TO ABIDE BY IT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL POINTED OUT.
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HE SAID THAT LAW WAS NO MORE AND NO LESS THAN A SET OF RULES REGULATING THE BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIVITIES OF THE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY.
"THOSE RULES MUST BE KNOWN AND RESPECTED IF THEY ARE ΤΟ BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMUNITY, AND OF COURSE THOSE WHO FAIL TO ABIDE BY THEM MUST BE SANCTIONED AND SEEN TO BE SANCTIONED IF THE RULE OF LAW IS TO OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY, MR MATHEWS SAID.
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"CLEARLY THERE EXISTS A DUTY UPON ANY FAIR-MINDED GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE LAW IS NOT ONLY ACCEDED то BUT ALSO HAS THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PEOPLE," HE SAID.
"IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THE LAW WITH A VIEW NOT ONLY TO OBEYING IT BUT ALSO SO THAT THEY KNOW THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AND SO THAT THEY CAN ORDER THEIR AFFAIRS AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY," THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ADDED.
HE SAID THE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION or RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG HAD, SINCE THE 708, HELPED VERY CONSIDERABLY TO BRING TO VIEWERS AT HOME MATTERS OF LAW THAT COULD AFFECT THEIR DAILY LIVES.
HE WAS SURE THE NEW SERIES "HONG KONG LAW" WOULD HELP THE PROPLE OF HONG KONG UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW.
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