XN000022-1985-11-27 — Page 28

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985

+WE MUST THEREFORE BE CAREFUL NOT TO THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER, AND IN A SURGE OF REFORMATORY ZEAL FOLLOWING THE HIGHLY-PUBLICISED EVENTS OF RECENT YEARS TRY TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF SUCH EVENTS AT THE COST OF CHANGING THE BASIC CHARACTER OF THE MARKET PLACE.

+BUSINESS CONFIDENCE ALSO REQUIRES A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY, AS WELL AS THE AVOIDANCE OF RETROACTIVITY AND OF ANY APPARENT CRITICISM OF COMMERCIAL SUCCESS WHEN AND WHERE LEGITIMATELY ACHIEVED, + HE SAID,

ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, DR SOHMEN OBSERVED THAT THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT THEIR SPEED AND SCOPE AND ABOUT THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING EFFORT WOULD NOT HELP HONG KONG'S AMBITIONS TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE.

+WITH HINDSIGHT ONE MIGHT SAY THAT APART FROM STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, AN ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVE OF THE TWO SOVEREIGN POWERS FOR HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTINUITY AS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

+THE JOINT DECLARATION HAS BROUGHT ITS SHARE OF INTERPRETATION PROBLEMS AND GOVERNMENT IS FACING A SITUATION OF HAVING TO ADAPT TO NEW EXPRESSIONS OF PUBLIC OPINION, STEER A CAREFUL COURSE BETWEEN OUR LOCAL ASPIRATIONS AND THE NATIONAL INTERESTS AND DIFFERING PRIORITIES OF TWO SOVEREIGN NATIONS, COPE WITH ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MODIFY THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATE THE PEOPLE TO MEET THE DEMANDS EXPECTED TO BE MADE ON THEM BY THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997.

+AS A BUSINESSMAN I MAY BE FORGIVEN FOR ARGUING THAT

HONG KONG'S ONLY STRENGTH CONTINUES TO LIE IN ITS ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY MEASURES CAPABLE OF THREATENING THIS SUCCESS EVEN TEMPORARILY DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE LONGER-TERM FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY, HE SAID.

GRADUAL ISM IN THE BUSINESS CONTEXT WAS ALWAYS PERFERABLE TO SUDDEN CHANGE, HE CONCLUDED.

IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE TACKLED FIRST

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED TO TACKLE PROBLEMS IN THE ORDER OF THE IR IMMEDIACY.

THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE HON ANDREW WONG DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MF MONG SAID PENDING PROBLEMS SHOULD ALWAYS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ANTICIPATED ONES.

/HE SAID