XN000022-1984-10-24 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1984

THE QUESTION AS TO

WHICH WAY ARE WE TO GO+ WOULD HAVE TO

BE FACED BEFORE LONG FOR TWO REASONS:

*

*

THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE WOULD HAVE CONSIDERABLE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REST OF THE SYSTEM.

IT WAS NECESSARY THAT THE NEW SYSTEM SHOULD BE WORKING SMOOTHLY WELL BEFORE THE TIME OF TRANSITION.

+JUST AS IMPORTANT AS CHANGES IN THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT WILL BE CHANGES IN OUR ATTITUDES TO IT, MISS DUNN CONTINUED.

+BY 1997 HONG KONG WILL BE RUNNING ITS OWN ELECTED

GOVERNMENT.

+AS A COMMUNITY WE TEND TO TAKE LITTLE INTEREST IN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING UNLESS ITS ACTIONS DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR OWN INTERESTS.

+ IN FUTURE WE SHALL HAVE TO THINK MORE ABOUT WHETHER ITS ACTIONS ARE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.+

WHAT WAS NEEDED WAS A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TO THE GOVERNMENT, TO BE MATCHED BY A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT ATTITUDES.

+FOR IF THE PUBLIC DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE MOVES TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WILL LEAD TO REAL CHANGE IN THE WAY WE ARE GOVERNED THEN THERE IS A RISK OF A CONTINUATION OF THE APATHY THAT HAS CHARACTERISED THE PUBLIC'S ATTITUDE TO DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN THE PAST,+ SHE ADDED.

THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE MORE, AND MORE QUICKLY, RESPONSIVE, AND IT MUST NOT BE SO DEFENSIVE.

+ IT MUST REACT TO PUBLIC OPINION, TO CRITICISM AND TO OPPOSITION WITH REASONED ARGUMENT AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER CHANGE WITHOUT BEING FORCED INTO IT.

+ IT MUST NOT IGNORE, REJECT WITHOUT ARGUMENT OR BRUSH ASIDE OBJECTIONS, HOWEVER MISCONCEIVED IT MAY THINK THEY ARE,+ MISS DUNN SAID.

A REAPPRAISAL OF THE MACHINERY OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO BE NECESSARY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTED LEGISLATURE; THE REMOVAL FROM IT OF MOST OF THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CONSTITUTION OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL; AND OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNCILS.

+ I AM SURE THAT NONE OF US WANTS A HIGHLY CENTRALISED GOVERNMENT, SHE SAID.

/FLEXIBILITY AND