WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1993
LEGCO TO ENSURE BEST ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS: GOVERNOR
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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD ENSURE THAT HONG KONG HAD FAIR, OPEN AND ACCEPTABLE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS.
"AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE OVERTURNED, HE SAID.
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SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF THE TIAN TAN BUDDHA ON LANTAU, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I THINK WHAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WANT IS A GUARANTEE THAT THEIR WAY OF LIFE WILL CONTINUE BEYOND 1997.
"LOOK AT THE
EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY OF THIS COMMUNITY, LOOK AT THE CIVILISED VALUE AND STANDARD WHICH THIS
WE WANT IN HONG KONG THOSE THINGS TO CONTINUE,"
COMMUNITY ENJOYS.
HE SAID HONG KONG WAS DETERMINED THAT THESE THINGS WOULD CONTINUE AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT GUARANTEES OF THEIR CONTINUING WAS THE RULE OF LAW.
"THE RULE OF LAW REQUIRES US TO HAVE IN PLACE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE FAIR, WHICH GUARANTEE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. NOBODY DISPUTES THOSE PROPOSITIONS. SO WE ARE GOING TO GO ON WORKING FOR THOSE THINGS.
"I AM SURE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH IS STARTING ΤΟ CONSIDER OUR NON-CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS TODAY, WILL DO A JOB WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE ARRANGEMENTS HERE IN HONG KONG WHICH ARE FAIR AND OPEN, WHICH ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
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ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE STATEMENT BY THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CHINA'S STATE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "IT'S A SURPRISING STATEMENT IN VERY MANY WAYS BECAUSE IT SEEMS ΤΟ BE A REFLECTION NOT OF THE RULE OF LAW BUT OF THE RULE OF MAN.
"IT APPEARS THAT THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE HAS THE POWER OF CLAIRVOYANCE BECAUSE EVEN BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS CONSIDER OR PASS LEGISLATION ON THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS, THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE SAY THAT THEY WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.'
HE NOTED THAT IT WAS NOT A MATTER FOR THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE TO DECIDE WHAT WAS OR WAS NOT IN LINE WITH THE BASIC LAW. IT IS A MATTER FOR THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF CHINA'S PEOPLE'S CONGRESS.
"I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF US 'REALLY BELIEVE THAT ONE'S FOOT IS AN ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE FOR A POLICY FOR THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, HE ADDED.
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NATIONAL
STAMPING LONG-TERM
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