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"It encourages needless anxiety and apprehension among our overseas business partners and thus threatens our future economic prosperity."
Mrs Chan said the motion had also dismissed the significant contribution made "** by the Governor in directing the entire process of reform in safeguarding the rule of law and in removing the legal restrictions on freedom of expression.
"It is under his leadership that the civil service has worked to introduce and to implement the extensive reform
programmes."
She pointed out that the Governor has also made a personal contribution to the authority of the Legislative Council.
"He was the first Governor in our history to step down from the Presidency and allow Members to elect their own President.
"He is the only Governor to accept a duty to appear before this Council regularly and to answer directly questions of Honourable Members.
"He has found new ways to discharge the Administration's duty of frankness, both to this Council and to the community."
Mrs Chan said the efforts made by LegCo and the Administration since 1992 demonstrated "in a very concrete way Hong Kong's determination to protect its way of life and to meet the challenges of the future".
The rule of law, firmly embedded in Hong Kong's community, is a result of the diligent work of the Legislative Council in scrutinising and approving a host of legislation to protect individual rights and freedom of expression.
The Chief Secretary appealed to Members to reject both the motion and the proposed amendment which, if supported by the Council, would do very real damage to the best interests of Hong Kong.
End/Wednesday, July 12, 1995
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