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Thirdly, we have to try to ensure, with China, that we complete the programme of localisation and adaptation of laws. And I can come back to that point in a moment. We're doing pretty well with localisation of laws. The main problem on adaptation of laws focuses on what officials call the modalities of adaptation, rather than the overall process. We've got to finish the review of legislation which we've begun, to ensure that our laws are all in line with the Bill of Rights. And we have, continually, to ensure that our Police, who are by I think general estimate, the finest Police Force in Asia, we have to ensure that our Police continue to be properly resourced and to get all the support from the community which they deserve.
Thanks, not least to the efforts of our Police, our crime figures in Hong Kong have been extremely good over the years. Better, according to Interpol comparisons, as I have said before, than those for example in Singapore. And our figures for violent crime have been continuing to fall. So those are some of the things I believe that we have to do in order to secure the rule of law here in Hong Kong, the rule of law which is one of the principal reasons for the success and decency of this community.
Mr Henry Tang: Mr President, I was rather anxious to raise my hand because this is the last chance I will have to ask you a question. I think, obviously, you have referred to an epidemic of Craddockitis, and in normal society, any kind of epidemic must be eradicated. What do you intend to do to eradicate Craddockitis?
Governor: I intend to consider to shed geniality and light on every argument in which I am involved, and to continue to rebut firmly but I hope courteously, arguments which I believe to be profoundly ill conceived, profoundly ill judged and profoundly against the interests of this extraordinary community.
Mr Edward Ho: Mr President, Governor, according to some recent reports, in the coming few years there could be a number of senior Government civil servants retiring thus creating a vacuum at the top of departments. And according to those reports the Government may have to resort to engaging people outside of the civil service, coming in to take up these posts.
Governor, my question really is directed to the situation in professional departments. Are there, first of all, I don't believe that there has been enough opportunities for professionals working in those departments to be able to rise to the very top, that is to head departments, to become policy secretaries and so forth. So my question is whether there is any policy to increase the opportunities for these people and also to give them training in management so that, you know they are not just considered to be architects, engineers, surveyors but that they can actually become people in the top management, as heads of departments, as policy secretaries rather than to enlist people from outside and thus hurting the morale of the people who have been working in the departments for years and years? Thank you.