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The second thing that impressed me about our elections was once again the moderation and decency of the campaign and of the comments afterwards. Big issues discussed without rancour. Vigorous debate conducted courteously. I shall always recall the dignity and good grace of some of the losing speeches. Magnanimity isn't always easy in victory; it's a good deal more difficult in defeat. Yet we saw and heard it here in abundance. And, of course, we listened to many of the winners accepting, with a touch of humility, the huge responsibility that goes with electoral success. There's been no crowing since the elections. No auction of promises that none of us will be able to afford. Those of us who've experienced elections in other countries. might sometimes compare and contrast the much less responsible behaviour we've often seen elsewhere.
My third impression is about the consistency of Hong Kong's voters. In 1991, just after Tiananmen, a bit over 60% of voters supported those usually regarded as the most pro-democracy candidates. "A flash in the pan", some people said. Well, four years on- and once again about the same proportion have backed the same candidates. Opinion in Hong Kong doesn't seem to budge very much, despite all the ups and downs of the last 4 years.
But it's worth noting that united front candidates did quite well, too as did some Liberals and independents. So the new Legislative Council will represent the whole community, every shade of opinion in it. Everyone took part in the elections, and the result is a credible, broadly-based legislature.
Hong Kong has once again shown its maturity. But what happens next? Will these elections bring good government to a halt? Or will we be able to demonstrate that we can give Hong Kong what it was promised, specifically in 1984, "a firmly based democratic administration".
That is what we are determined to do. It's our job in this government to give a lead, and to take the final responsibility. But we want to work constructively and in partnership with legislators, playing our part in a shared endeavour for the good of the whole community. We'll discuss. Listen. Try to persuade. That's what happens in good govemment. There's give and take. But, naturally, at the end of the day the buck stops with me, with Anson Chan and Donald Tsang, and with our senior officials. Make no mistake, we are confident that we can rise to the challenges ahead, as successfully as the whole community has met those of the last few years.
The votes two weeks ago weren't votes for irresponsibility. They weren't votes for endless political punch-ups. They were votes for Hong Kong's much promised high degree of autonomy. Votes for Hong Kong's way of life. And votes for the formula on which our success has been built.