WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994
MS
WU ALSO ARGUED THAT MORE RESOURCES SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO LEGCO AND THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD ONLY APPOINT POLICY SECRETARIES AFTER CONSULTATION WITH LEGCO. WE ARE ALWAYS PREPARED TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF RESOURCES WITH AN OPEN MIND. BUT I MUST MAKE THE POINT THAT PROPOSALS TO GIVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE COUNCIL MUST RECEIVE THE SAME DEGREE OF CAREFUL SCRUTINY AS DO PROPOSALS FROM GOVERNMENT BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS. I AM SURE THAT HON MEMBERS WOULD NOT WISH IT TO BE OTHERWISE, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT EVERY BRANCH AND DEPARTMENT FEELS HARD DONE BY EVERY YEAR, AND THAT NONE GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY ASK FOR. I HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY WITH MS WU'S SUGGESTION ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF POLICY SECRETARIES. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON HAVING AN APOLITICAL CIVIL SERVICE, FREE OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE. IF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS TO REMAIN EFFICIENT AND CLEAN,
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT IT STAYS POLITICALLY NEUTRAL WITH ALL MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, DISCIPLINE AND RETIREMENT, VESTED STRICTLY IN THE ADMINISTRATION. IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE AS PRESENTLY ADMINISTERED IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO HONG KONG'S CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AND WE TAMPER WITH IT AT OUR PERIL.
SINO BRITISH COOPERATION
IN THE COURSE OF THIS DEBATE, MANY MEMBERS REFERRED TO THE NEED TO IMPROVE COOPERATION WITH OUR FUTURE SOVEREIGN POWER, CHINA, FOR THE GOOD OF HONG KONG. WE FERVENTLY AGREE.
THE OBJECTIVE OF MAINTAINING HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY UNDERLIES THE JOINT DECLARATION, BOTH BRITAIN AND CHINA HAVE PLEDGED TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THIS. LET US NOT FORGET, THEREFORE, THAT COOPERATION IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH SIDES.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS HAS NOT BEEN EASY. THERE HAVE BEEN DISAGREEMENTS, BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN MANY MORE SUCCESSES WHEN THE TWO SIDES WERE ABLE TO BUILD ON THE FIRM FOUNDATION LAID DOWN BY THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND ON THE SHARED INTEREST OF A SMOOTH TRANSITION. THE GOVERNOR, IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS, OUTLINED THE BREADTH OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA, AND UNDERSCORED THE MANY IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. I SHALL NOT REPEAT THEM HERE. BUT THERE IS A MYTH AROUND TOWN THAT THE TWO YEARS HAVE SEEN NOTHING BUT THE SOUND AND FURY OF ARGUMENTS. COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. LET ME ILLUSTRATE:
LAST THAT
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A RANGE OF LONG TERM, MAJOR CONTRACTS AND FRANCHISES STRADDLING 1997 THAT ENSURE FOR HONG KONG CONTINUED AND STABLE POWER SUPPLIES, MAJOR LANDFILLS TO DISPOSE SAFELY OF OUR SOLID WASTES, AND ENHANCEMENT OF OUR TELEVISION BROADCASTING SERVICES.
WE HAVE ACHIEVED AGREEMENT ON INCREASING THE QUOTA OF ONE- WAY PERMIT ENTRANTS FROM CHINA, SO AS то FACILITATE THE EARLIER REUNIFICATION OF FAMILIES WITH WIVES AND CHILDREN IN CHINA.
/WE HAVE
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