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some workshops operate or appreciates the unsatisfactory standards of life

endured by too many of our residents, will feel satisfied with what we

have achieved. Nor should we expect British politicians to feel differently.

Most of them are men of social conscience who want to see an improvement

in the lot of the less fortunate members of mankind. If anything, they

are more critical of the slums of British industrial towns than they are of

anything which they see here.

"Furthermore, we should make allowance for the common human tendency

to expect oth rs to think and act in the same ways as we do. Linked to this

is the desire to impose our beliefs and standards on our fellows, whether

or not these are appropriate to their circumstances.

"Consequently, it is understandable that some British reformers

should feel that we ought to adopt here the political machinery and state

paternalism which have been applied in Britain. And because they live

under one kind of economic and social system, they regard alternatives with

some suspicion.

"One particular allegation is that we are a laissez-faire

society. The implication is that such a society is ruthless, uncaring

and indifferent.

"The label would be an accurate description of Hong Kong

if it meant that as a govermont we recognize that bureaucrats should

confine themselves to administration, that business is best conducted by

businessmen and that through the market mechanian free enterprise will

discover for itself, (without state direction) those methods of production

and the types of product mo.t suited to our needs as a trader with world

wide interests.

"But this does not mean that we tolerate inhuman conditions

of work or the exploitation of employees. We have prohibited the employment

.of children in industrial undertakings, we have controlled the hours of

/work and.....