XN000022-1986-11-05 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1986

POLITICAL CHANGE MUST BE COMPATIBLE

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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, NO MATTER HOW HIGH SOUNDING AND ATTRACTIVE, MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE BASIC OBJECTIVES OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND SOCIAL STABILITY, WHICH REMAIN THE COMMON AIM OF THE PEOPLE, THE HON RITA FAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MRS FAN SAID HONG KONG HAD ACHIEVED AN OUTSTANDING TRACK RECORD IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH CONVINCED OTHERS THAT ITS SYSTEMS, WAY OF LIFE, AND FREEDOM WERE WORTH PRESERVING.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY WAS BY FAR THE BEST GUARANTEE FOR CONTINUING THE TERRITORY'S WAY OF LIFE.

REFERRING TO THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, MRS FAN FELT IT WAS ONLY FAIR THAT CITIZENS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE ESSENCE OF THE PRESENT SITUATION BEFORE THEY COULD BE EXPECTED TO DECIDE WHAT CHANGES AND WHICH FORMAT WERE BETTER AND MORE SUITABLE.

+IT IS NECESSARY THAT THE PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, THE SILENT MAJORITY, SHOULD BE INFORMED ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM, THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY, AND OF OTHER ALTERNATIVES, IN A BALANCED AND OBJECTIVE MANNER, SHE SAID.

ON DIRECT ELECTION, MRS FAN SAID IF THE PEOPLE DECIDED IN FAVOUR OF THIS FOR 1988, THEY SHOULD DO SO IN FULL APPRECIATION OF THE PITFALLS SO THAT THEY WERE PREPARED AND COULD TRY TO AVOID THEM.

IF THE PEOPLE DECIDED AGAINST DIRECT ELECTION FOR 1988, THEY SHOULD ALSO DO SO WITH FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPLICATIONS.

MRS FAN CAUTIONED THAT ANY CHANGES MUST SUIT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE.

+WHAT WE MUST ENSURE IS THAT CHANGES ARE FOR THE BETTER AND THAT THEY WILL STRENGTHEN PROSPERITY AND STABILITY, SHE SAID.

SHE BELIEVED THAT CHANGES SHOULD SATISFY TWO BASIC CRITERIA THAT THE NEXT STAGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT MUST HAVE THE RIGHT MIX OF INGREDIENTS TO MAINTAIN THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND THAT THE PEOPLE MUST SUPPORT THE CHANGES AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEM.

MRS FAN FELT THAT ON ANY ISSUE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE THE PEOPLE ADEQUATE INFORMATION. STIMULATE THEM TO THINK ABOUT THE ISSUE AND GIVE EXPLANATIONS WHENEVER NECESSARY.

/+HOWEVER, IT

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