XN000022-1984-10-24 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1984

THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION HAD ALREADY GIVEN HONG KONG A PLUEPRINT.

+THUS IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT WE WOULD GO ASTRAY, MR SO SAID.

*WE MAY STUMBLE, BUT WE CAN OF COURSE STAND ON OUR FEET AGAIN, SHAKE OFF THE DUST AND MOVE ON IN A STEADY PACE,+

MR SO SAID THE SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT DEPENDED LARGELY ON THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE PEOPLE.

THE SYSTEM ITSELF UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING

THE PEOPLE.

IN HONG KONG IT WAS NECESSARY TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN UP LEADERS SO THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND AND ASSUME THEIR POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

AT THE SAME TIME THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE EDUCATED TO UNDERSTAND THE IR RESPONSIBILITIES AND PLAY THEIR PART IN ELECTING SUITABLE LEADERS.

MOREOVER, THEY SHOULD ALSO BE TAUGHT TO EXPRESS THE IR VIEN. ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE BILLS INTRODUCED BY IT.

+AS THE SINO-BRITISH DRAFT AGREEMENT CLEARLY INDICATES DIRECTION OF CHANGES FOR HONG KONG, PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY SHOULD STUDY THE FUTURE CHANGES AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND IN DIFFERENT AREAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY TH A VIEW TO ENSURING THAT THE AIM OF HONG KONG PEOPLE RUNNIN HONG KONG CAN BE ACHIEVED, + MR SO SAID.

HE SAID DIRECT OR INDIRECT ELECTIONS WERE AMONG THE FOL TOPICS BEING DISCUSSED RECENTLY.

+YET I THINK IT IS NOT THE CRUX OF THE WHOLE PROBLEM, AHI- IS CRUCIAL IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE ENTHUSIASTICALLY IN THE ELECTIONS AND THAT MORE DEDICATED AT RIGHTEOUS MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD COME UP AS LEADERS, HE SAID.

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