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He is the only Governor to accept a duty to appear before this Council regularly and to answer directly the questions of Honourable Members.
No less important, he has found new ways to discharge the Administration's duty of frankness, both to this Council and to the community.
Early in my speech today, I quoted his description of the rule of law as a core policy for the administration. I have described our efforts to implement that policy through a partnership involving this Council, the civil service and the community. The Governor has promoted that partnership in two vital ways: first, through his personal commitment to the rule of law and, second, through the respect which he has shown for this Council and its work.
Let me sum up in plain terms, the overwhelming case against this motion.
It undermines the partnership between this Council, the civil service and the community as a whole, which has achieved so much over the last three years.
It casts aside all the efforts that Hong Kong has made, especially over the last three years, to secure our future on the firm foundations of the rule of law.
It encourages needless anxiety and apprehension amongst our overseas business partners and thus threatens our future economic prosperity.
I urge Honourable Members strongly to reject both this motion and the proposed amendment. I can see no possible benefit to the people of Hong Kong from voting in their favour. On the contrary I can foresee very real damage to the best interests of Hong Kong if the motion or the proposed amendment were supported by this Council.
End/Wednesday, July 12, 1995
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