XN000022-1984-10-31 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1984

1

PEOPLE URGED TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON DRAFT AGREEMENT

****

THE GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO PUT FORWARD THE IR VIEWS ON THE SINO-BRITISH DRAFT AGREEMENT, BOTH ON ITS GENERAL ACCEPTABILITY AND ON ITS PROVISIONS.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING, SIR EDWARD SAID THAT AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD RECENTLY EMPHASISED IN THE UK PARLIAMENT, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE DID SO FOR TWO REASONS.

FIRST, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WILL NEED TO KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHEN IT IS DEBATED IN EARLY DECEMBER.

SECOND, ALTHOUGH THE AGREEMENT CANNOT BE AMENDED, THE VIEWS ON ALL PARTS OF IT WILL BE OF THE GREATEST VALUE IN THE CONTINUING DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

+NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS, BUT THOSE ORGANISATIONS WHICH REPRESENT SUBSTANTIAL BODIES OF OPINION IN THE MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY SHOULD RESPOND TO THAT CALL, SIR EDWARD SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING WAS ALSO THE TEMPORARY HOME OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, WHICH IS CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF ASSESSING THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE AGREEMENT.

HE SAID THAT THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, ITS CENTRAL POSITION AND THE SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES INVESTED IN IT +TESTIFY TO THE GOVERNMENT'S RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW IN OUR COMMUNITY; AND OF THE NEED TO HOUSE OUR COURTS WITH DIGNITY.+

+THAT RULE SECURES SOCIETY AGAINST UPHEAVAL AND DISORDER, AND THE EXERCISE OF ARBITRARY POWER.

+OUR JUDICIARY ACTS AS ONE OF THE GUARDIANS OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THE JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT, DISPENSING JUSTICE IMPARTIALLY, ENSURE THAT ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW AND THAT NONE ARE ABOVE IT,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.

HONG KONG'S JUDICIARY HAD EARNED A WELL JUSTIFIED REPUTATION FOR INTEGRITY AND DESPATCH IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES. THE COURTS WERE HELD IN HIGH REGARD BOTH BY THE TERRITORY'S OWN COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

+AS HONG KONG HAS PROSPERED AND DEVELOPED INTO A COMPLEX COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, SO THE LEGAL SYSTEM HAS GROWN IN SIZE TO MATCH THE DEMANDS THAT BUSINESS HAS IMPOSED.

THE SPEED