XN000022-1984-10-24 — Page 15

WENESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1984

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+ I AGREE THAT POLITICAL CHANGES SHOULD BE PROGRESSIVE. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO INTRODUCE CHANGES TOO QUICKLY.

+1 ALSO APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS FOR THEY SERVE A SPECIAL PURPOSE.

+YET I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD SOONER OR LATER FACE THE REALITY OF DIRECT ELECTION, THOUGH NOT ENTIRELY FULL SCALE, AT LEAST HALF SCALE.+

+SECONDLY, TO PREPARE FOR CHANGES IN THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SEPARATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY FROM THE MONITORING MACHINERY, MR WONG SAID.

MORE USE OF CHINESE LANGUAGE URGED

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FURTHER STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO RAISE THE POSITION OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE IN THE INTERESTS OF GOOD

ADMINISTRATION, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT, BEING THE LARGEST SINGLE AND GOOD EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG, SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN RECRUITING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A CHINESE SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION, THEREBY SERVING AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. TESTS IN THE USE OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY FOR ALL CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR ANY GRADE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

HE SAID ALSO THAT PROMOTION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AN OFFICER'S LEVEL OF COMPETENCY IN WRITTEN AND ORAL CHINESE, IF HE OR SHE WAS ETHNIC CHINESE.

AND INCENTIVES SHOULD BE GIVEN TO NON-CHINESE SPEAKING OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WHO HAD ACQUIRED A PRESCRIBED LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY IN WRITTEN OR ORAL CHINESE, HE SAID.

DR HO SAID THAT MORE SERIOUS EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO GIVE THE USE OF CHINESE EQUAL STATUS WITH THAT OF ENGLISH IN COURT PROCEEDINGS AND TO MAKE CHINESE A LANGUAGE OF THE LAW IN THE LONG-TERM.

TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE A PASS IN CHINESE AN ADMISSION REQUIREMENT FOR CANDIDATES OF CHINESE DESCENT, HE SAID.

/DR HO