XN000022-1984-09-05 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1984

+THAT IS, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN, THE TRUE MYSTERY INGREDIENT IN THIS REMARKABLE SOCIETY WE HAVE CREATED HERE.+

+WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEVELOPED A SENSE OF THE COLLECTIVE GOAL WITHOUT IMPINGING ON THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.+

THE DIRECTOR HOPED MORE INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSIONS WOULD BE MADE BEFORE THE EXPIRY, ON SEPTEMBER 17, OF THE TWO-MONTH PERIOD FOR THE SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS.

THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY AMASSED A CONSIDERABLE VOLUME OF 'FEEDBACK' ON THE RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER, MR TSAO SAID.

SO FAR. THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES HAD COLLECTED A TOTAL OF 107 EDITORIALS, 132 COMMENTARIES AND 49 READERS' LETTERS ON THE SUBJECT.

THE ASPECTS COVERED INCLUDED SUCH TOPICS AS THE DEFINITION OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, THE PACE OF POLITICAL REFORM, THE NEED FOR CIVIC EDUCATION, THE DRIVE FOR ELECTORAL REGISTRATION, THE MERITS OF THE CASE FOR BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT ELECTIONS AND THE LENGTH OF TIME ALLOWED FOR CONSULTATION.

+OUR MEDIA HAVE ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED THE INESTIMABLE VALUE OF A FREE PRESS IN REFLECTING PUBLIC OPINION, HE ADDED.

+WE DO NOT REGARD FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS AS SOME KIND OF PRICE WE ADMINISTRATORS HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER TO EARN BONUS POINTS FOR DEMOCRACY.

+FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS, QUITE SIMPLY, ESSENTIAL TO THE WAY IN WHICH THIS PLACE OPERATES.+

MR TSAO NOTED THAT THE MAN-IN-THE-STREET WAS CLEARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP TO EMERGE IN HONG KONG, AS THERE HAD BEEN A STRIKING RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT DRIVE FOR REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS.

BY THE END OF LAST MONTH, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ELECTORS HAD REACHED 1.2 MILLION,

TAKEN TOGETHER, THE NUMBERS OF THOSE WHO HAD MADE THE EFFORT TO REGISTER, AND THOSE WHO HAD COME FORWARD TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE GREEN PAPER, MUST SURELY ADD UP TO A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE POPULATION WHO HAD REACHED SOME CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WISHED TO SEE HONG KONG GOVERNED.

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