XN000022-1983-03-18 — Page 6

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1983

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+OFTEN SUCH A PICTURE CAN CATCH, IN A GESTURE, A MOOD OR EXPRESSION, THE OVERTONES THAT THE ACCOMPANYING TEXT CANNOT CONVEY, HE SAID.

HE DESCRIBED THE PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST AS BEING AMONG THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS, ADDING THAT THE EXHIBITION TESTIFIED TO THE KEENNESS OF THEIR VISION.

+] CONGRATULATE THEM ON THE IR ACHIEVEMENTS. I ALSO COMMISERATE WITH THEM THAT, IN TRANSLATION TO THE NEWSPAPER PAGE, THE FINER DETAIL OF THE IR ART IS SOMETIMES LOST, HE SAID.

HONG KONG GOVERNED BY CONSENSUS

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BRAY

WHILE HONG KONG DOES NOT HAVE AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT, IT DOES HAVE A FREE PRESS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THROUGH THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT IS TO REACH A CONSENSUS OF SOME SORT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MR DRAY NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, NOT BEING AN ELECTED ONE, COULD NOT CALL AN ELECTION TO GET A MANDATE TO +RAM THROUGH+ A POLICY OR LAW. NEITHER COULD IT DECIDE CONTROVERSIAL MATTERS. BY VOTING.

ANOTHER FEATURE OF OUR SYSTEM LEADING TO THE CONSENSUS POLITICS WAS OUR FREEDOMS IN THE PRESS, IN SPEECH AND IN ASSEMBLY.

*WE CANNOT STIFLE PROTEST SO WE SIMPLY HAVE TO COME TO

ACCOMMODATION WITH IT, MR BRAY SAID.

+ IF WE DID NOT DO SO BUT RELIED ON THE THEORETICALLY ABSOLUTE POWERS IN OUR WRITTEN CONSTITUTION AND STILL RETAINED OUR FREEDOMS THE PLACE WOULD RAPIDLY BECOME UNGOVERNABLE.

+HAPPILY | THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH SENSE BOTH IN THE GOVERNMENT AND AMONG OUR PEOPLE NOT TO LET THIS HAPPEN.+

EXPLAINING THE PUBLIC CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, MR BRAY SAID WHEN A BILL HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE DEBATE ON IT WAS ADJOURNED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SPEECH OF THE MEMBER PROPOSING THE BILL, AND THEREAFTER EVERYONE COULD HAVE A GO AT IT+.

HE SAID THE PUBLIC COULD EITHER TACKLE THE GOVERNMENT DIRECT OR THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THROUGH THE UMELCO OFFICE.

/+THESE UNOFFICIAL