XN000022-1984-08-02 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1984

20 UNOFFICIALS SPEAK ON GREEN PAPER

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THE HON ROGER LOBO, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TODAY SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT SYSTEM SHOULD BE EXAMINED FIRST, ITS STRENGTHS IDENTIFIED AND THEN A WAY FOUND TO BUILD ON THESE STRENGTHS.

HE WAS LEADING A DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON A MOTION WHICH READ: THAT THIS COUNCIL WELCOMES GOVERNMENT'S PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG AND COMMENDS IT TO THE PUBLIC FOR EXAMINATION AND COMMENTS.+

HE CONSIDERED THE ADMINISTRATION AS A VERY RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT, DEVOTING A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND RESOURCES TO FINDING WHAT PEOPLE WANTED.

HE STRESSED THAT THE PEOPLE MUST NOT OVERLOOK 'STABILITY' AS THEY FACED THE FUTURE WITH CONCERN AND APPREHENSION AND AMID CRIES FOR DEMOCRACY AND DIRECT ELECTIONS.

NEITHER SHOULD ONE LOSE SIGHT THAT HONG KONG WAS BUILT ON THE PEOPLE'S DETERMINATION AND THEIR CONFIDENCE, HE ADDED.

A TOTAL OF 19 UNOFFICIALS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION. THEY WERE THE HON ALEX WU, THE HON LYDIA DUNN, THE HON PETER C. WONG, THE HON WONG LAM, THE HON CHARLES YEUNG, DR THE HON HO KAM- FAI, THE HON WONG PO-YAN, THE HON BILL BROWN, THE HON K.C. CHAN, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG, THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE HON MRS

THE HON SELINA CHOW, THE HON MARIA TAM, DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP. CHAN YING-LUN, THE HON MRS RITA FAN, THE HON MRS PAULINE NG, THE HON PETER POON AND THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN.

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THE HON ALEX WU SAID THAT PEOPLE HAD NOT BEEN INTERESTED IN POLITICS IN THE PAST BUT THEY MUST CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE NOW.

HE STRESSED THAT THEY MUST PREPARE THEMSELVES WELL, LEARN AND UNDERSTAND THE REAL MEANING OF DEMOCRACY IN ORDER TO SET UP A SOUND SYSTEM.

+THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION ARE THE BEST MEANS TO ESTABLISH THIS SYSTEM, + HE SAID.

HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS NO LACK OF ABLE MEN AMONG THE 5.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.

THE HON LYDIA DUNN STRESSED IT MUST BE RECOGNISED THAT REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT A PANACEA.

SHE BELIEVED THAT IN THE NEW STYLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MEMBERS SHOULD BE ENDOWED WITH EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY, TAKING OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR CERTAIN PORTFOLIOS FROM SECRETARIES AND BECOMING ANSWERABLE FOR THOSE PORTFOLIOS IN THE COUNCIL.

/MISS DUNN