CONTINUITY OF POLICIES AND PEOPLE IS VITAL TO HK: SIR DAVID
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THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID FORD SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT CONTINUITY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF GOOD GOVERNMENT, BUT THE PROCESS DEPENDS FOR ITS SUCCESS ON CONTINUITY OF PEOPLE.
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"I AM STRUCK ON MY VISITS ABROAD HOW WIDELY IT IS ASSUMED THAT, COME 1997 THERE WILL BE A COMPLETELY NEW GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, SAID SIR DAVID WHEN ADDRESSING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY FELLOWSHIP DINNER OF THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
HE POINTED OUT THAT MORE RECENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN CRITICISED LOCALLY FOR TAKING DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.
"THIS IGNORES THE FUNDAMENTAL DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW.
OBJECTIVES OF
THE
JOINT
"IT IS INTEGRAL TO BOTH THAT, WHILE SOVEREIGNTY IS TRANSFERRED AND THE SIGNS AND SYMBOLS OF THAT SOVEREIGNTY CHANGE, THERE SHOULD CONTINUITY OF INSTITUTIONS, LEGISLATURE AND PEOPLE," HE SAID.
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SIR DAVID SAID THE PEOPLE WHO WERE MAKING MOST OF THE LONG-TERM DECISIONS SO ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE PROSPERITY WERE HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE GOVERNMENT WHO WOULD FORM THE CORE OF THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT IN 1997 AND BEYOND.
"MORE THAN HALF THE SECRETARY POSTS IN ALREADY FILLED BY LOCAL OFFICERS.
THE
GOVERNMENT ARE
"IT IS OUR CLEAR INTENTION THAT AHEAD OF 1997, THESE TOP POSTS IN THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE FILLED BY PEOPLE WHO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BASIC LAW SO THAT THEY CAN SERVE THROUGH 1997.
"THERE IS NO LACK OF COMMITMENT AMONGST THE GROUP OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO FORM THAT TRANSITION, NOR IS THERE A LACK OF TALENT, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DEPARTURE OF THE EXPATRIATE ELEMENT FROM THE MOST SENIOR ECHELONS OF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD IN NO WAY WEAKEN THE GOVERNMENT.
"INDEED. IT SEEMS TO ME A RATHER ARROGANT VIEW TO ASSUME THAT
IT WOULD.
"TO HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE AT THE TOP, CLOSELY IN TOUCH WITH ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY, MUST STRENGTHEN THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT ITS POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES ARE IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY'S ASPIRATIONS," HE SAID.
MOVING THESE MEN AND WOMEN INTO POSITION, SAID SIR DAVID, WAS A
KEY PART OF PLANNING THE PROCESS OF CHANGE.
"I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN THIS WAY WE WILL SECURE THE CONTINUITY OF BOTH POLICIES AND PEOPLE NECESSARY TO SEE HONG KONG THROUGH THE TRANSITION AND INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, HE SAID.
/SIR DAVID