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President (in Chinese): That was a very thorough answer. I don't believe there is any room for follow-up.
Mr Lee Wing-tat (in Chinese): I think the Governor should express appreciation towards my question because it gave him a chance to read out parts of history. But one thing the Governor has yet to learn is that many Legislative Councillors actually can make an about-turn or change their position, even at this point in time.
Concerning the recommendation from the Legal Sub-group, the Chinese Government is going to make a final decision only next week. I would like to know, in the remaining week, in the remaining time, what else can you do about this?
Governor: I just make one gentle remark in relation to what the honourable gentleman has said about about-turns. There is a difference between an about-turn and a revolving-door. And I really do think that people are going to be required to stand up for the way of life which they say they believe in and which has been guaranteed by the Joint Declaration.
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But let me tell you what I am going to do what I'm going to do. I am going to go on speaking out for those values which have made Hong Kong so successful. I notice that that same Foreign Affairs spokesman said the other day that the PRC had changed in the last 40 or 50 years, hadn't we realised that? Absolutely! I am sure that he has noticed that Hong Kong has changed as well; that Hong Kong today is one of the most sophisticated cities in the world and it would be extraordinary to argue that a first-world economy should be saddled with the sort of political institutions which would be rejected by a third-world economy. That's the truth of the matter, and the Foreign Affairs spokesman should, I think, recognise that.
I think the honourable gentleman will have noticed that it is not just the Governor of Hong Kong who has expressed his concern. Right around the world newspaper editorials, governments, political leaders and others have expressed their concern. So I really do urge those who are responsible for these matters to think again and think again hard. This is a very responsible community. It is a mature community. It is a law-abiding community. Allowing people to use a loud-hailer is not going to bring civilised society as we know it crashing down.
Governor (cont'd): I would remind some of those who will be responsible for Hong Kong in the future, of a very wise remark of the political philosopher Edmund Burke - (1729-97) In a letter to Charles James Fox, 8 October 1777 - he wrote:
"People crushed by law have no hope... If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws;"
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