XN000022-1983-09-01 — Page 4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1983

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MUCH TO BE PROUD OF HERE, Y'S MEN TOLD

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THERE IS MUCH TO CRITICISE IN HONG KONG AND THIS IS TRUE OF OTHER CITIES, BUT THERE IS FAR, FAR MORE TO BE PROUD OF, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, DR PATRICK HASE TOLD A MEETING OF THE Y'S MEN'S CLUB TODAY.

DR HASE QUOTED THE EXAMPLE OF HONG KONG'S HOUSING PROGRAMME, THE LIKE OF WHICH HE SAID WAS NOT PRODUCED IN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE WORLD.

+THIS HOUSING PROGRAMME HAS ITS FAULTS, AND IT IS THE DUTY OF ALL CITIZENS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THESE FAULTS, BUT THOSE FAULTS MUST BE SEEN AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF AN IMMENSE AND STUPENDOUS SUCCESS.

+THIS SUCCESS IS ONE IN WHICH WE ALL SHARE, FOR THE PROGRAMME DEPENDS FOR ITS SUCCESS ON THE ECONOMIC VITALITY, POLITICAL COMMONSENSE, STABILITY AND OUTSPOKENNESS OF THE CITIZENS OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ITSELF SHOULD ALSO BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE, FOR IT WORKS BETTER AND MORE FAIRLY THAN MOST.

+IT RESTS ON TWO PILLARS: FIRSTLY, A GOVERNMENT CONSTRAINED BY LAW SO AS TO BE QUITE DEBARRED FROM ARBITRARY OR EXCESSIVE ACTION; SECONDLY A VERY WIDE-RANGING STRUCTURE OF CONSULTATIVE BODIES, BACKED BY A POWERFUL SYSTEM OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND A FREE PRESS, TO ENSURE THAT CITIZENS' VIEWS MUST BE HEARD, + DR HASE SAID.

IT SHOULD BE A MATTER OF PRIDE THAT HONG KONG ALONE OF TERRITORIES IN THIS REGION ENJOYS THE FREEDOMS -- +FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT DECISIONS, FREEDOM TO CRITICISE GOVERNMENT, FREEDOM TO EXPERIMENT WITH LIFESTYLES, TO DEVELOP TALENTS, TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT ONE HAS, FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL BELIEF AND PRACTICE, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, FREEDOM TO DO WHATEVER JOBS SEEM MOST SUITED TO YOU.

+THESE, WITH FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT, THE MOST BASIC OF ALL FREEDOMS, HE SAID.

AS FOR THE CONSULTATIVE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT, DR HASE POINTED OUT THAT SOME 2 000 UNOFFICIALS WERE INVOLVED IN THE TERRITORY-WIDE CONSULTATIVE BODIES, 2 500 IN THE DISTRICT BODIES, AND AT LEAST 20 000 IN THE GRASSROOTS BODIES, MOSTLY MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS INCORPORATIONS.

+HOWEVER YOU DEFINE DEMOCRACY THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, ONE IN EVERY 600 CITIZENS AGED BETWEEN 30 AND 60 ARE INVOLVED

DIRECTLY IN TERRITORY STRAAT DATES NO ONE IN EVERY 275

IN EITHER TERRITORY-WIDE OR DISTRICT BODIES, AND ONE IN EVERY 100 IN SOME BODY AT SOME LEVEL, HE SAID.

+NOT ONLY IS THE STRUCTURE THERE, BUT IT IS USED. THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS WHAT PEOPLE WANT, WHAT THEIR WISHES ARE, AND WHAT THEIR PROBLEMS ARE, HE SAID.