3 -
Chief Secretary on vote of no confidence in Governor of HK
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in the Legislative Council motion debate today (Wednesday) on the vote of no confidence in the Governor of Hong Kong:
Mr President,
I should like to make it plain from the outset that I have the strongest objections to this motion, both personally and on behalf of the Administration. Let me also make it clear that the proposed amendment is unacceptable. I appreciate the courtesy of the Honourable Member in seeking to depersonalise the original motion. However, I must totally reject the allegation that we have acted in breach of the Joint Declaration. On the contrary, it has been amongst our highest priorities to promote Hong Kong's well- being through the faithful implementation of the Joint Declaration.
Let me turn now to the original motion. This motion is not really about confidence in the Administration and the Governor. Nor is it part of the normal dialogue of goodwill and common sense between the Administration and the Legislative Council which the community is entitled to expect. This motion is an attack on all the efforts that this Council, the civil service and the community have made over the last three years to create a secure future for our people through safeguarding the rule of law.
We should begin by looking at the principles involved. For the Government of Hong Kong, the rule of law is not a text-book phrase or a debating slogan. The rule of law is a core policy, which is at the heart of so much of our work.. The Administration's dedication to the rule of law was spelled out in the clearest terms when the Governor addressed this Council on 5 October last year. I cannot hope to improve on the words he used on that occasion. Let me quote these words:
"The rule of law is essential for Hong Kong's future. It begins with individuals and their right to seek the protection of the Courts, in which justice is administered by impartial judges. It protects the freedom of individuals to manage their affairs without fear of arbitrary interference by the Government or the improper influence of the rich and powerful. Its starting point is the individual but it encompasses the whole of society. For the business community in particular, the rule of law is crucial. Without it, there is no protection against corruption, nepotism or expropriation. Only under the rule of law are businessmen guaranteed the level playing field and the competitive environment which they need."