XN000022-1982-10-28 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982

BE TACTFUL AND PATIENT, PUBLIC TOLD

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DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI URGED THE PUBLIC TO TAKE A CAUTIOUS, TACTFUL AND PATIENT APPROACH+ ON THE ISSUE OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE AND TO REFRAIN FROM COMPLICATING EFFORTS UNNECESSARILY.

HE SAID THE FACT THAT DIPLOMATIC TALKS HAD STARTED IN PEKING SO SOON AFTER THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT, HAD MANY SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS.

AS HE SAW IT, THE MOST CRUCIAL IMPLICATION WAS THAT THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WISHED TO SETTLE THE ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC'S ANXIETY TO THE MINIMUM.

+GIVEN THAT A MUTUAL AIM HAS BEEN AGREED, THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAS REAFFIRMED ITS RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG, AND THAT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE TAKEN FULLY IN THE COURSE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, I HAVE GOOD REASONS TO SUGGEST THAT THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SHOULD KEEP UP THEIR FAITH ABOUT THE FUTURE AND AVOID OVER REACTIONS IN THE MEANTIME, DR HO SAID.

+NER VOUSNESS AND PANIC ARE CONTAGIOUS; IDLE SPECULATIONS COULD ONLY BREED DISTORTIONS.

+WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW ANY OF THEM TO UNDERMINE OUR OWN CONFIDENCE, AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE IN US.+

COMMUNITY BODIES AND GROUPS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS MAY BE COLLECTING PUBLIC VIEWS AND OPINIONS ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE NOW.

BUT DR HO SUGGESTED THAT THEY FIRST CONFINE THEIR ACTIONS TO A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE VIEWS THEY RECEIVE AND THEN HANDLE THEIR FINDINGS CAREFULLY.

+ANY PREMATURE EXPRESSION OF VIEWS, UNDENIABLY WITH GOODWILL, IS LIKELY TO PUT HONG KONG INTO THE PROBLEMS I HAVE JUST MENTIONED, + HE SAID,

DR HO ALSO SPOKE ON THE HOUSING PROBLEM FOR THE ELDERLY.

HE DESCRIBED THE PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME TO PROVIDE PRIVATE HOUSING ACCOMMODATION FOR SOME 700 ELDERLY PEOPLE AS AN +INNOVATIVE AND POSITIVE+ MOVE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.

TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME, KE SUGGESTED.

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RULES, REGULATIONS AND OTHER RED TAPE IN MANAGING THE FLATS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM AND BE MADE PREDOMINANTLY WITH REGARD TO THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS.

IN FITTING