XN000022-1986-11-11 — Page 2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1986

CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEM FUNDAMENTAL

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THE GRADUAL AND CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT FIRMLY ROOTED IN HONG KONG, REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, IS FUNDAMENTAL, THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE 17TH WORLD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES INSTITUTES, MR SCOTT SAID IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES, AND IN THEIR ABILITY TO GRASP AND TO MANAGE THEIR OWN FUTURE,

+FOR HISTORICAL REASONS, HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE PERHAPS NOT WISHED, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ENCOURAGED TO COME OF AGE POLITICALLY UNTIL QUITE RECENTLY BUT THERE ARE CLEAR SIGNS THAT THE PROCESS IS MOVING SATISFACTORILY, HE SAID.

MR SCOTT SAID HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FEAR, OR DISTRUST, THIS NEW CLIMATE OF POLITICAL AND CIVIC AWARENESS.

+RATHER, IT SHOULD BE WELCOME AS EVIDENCE AND AN ASSURANCE THAT HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THOSE MEN AND WOMEN OF ABILITY AND DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IT WILL ALWAYS NEED, HE SAID.

QUOTING EDMUND BURKE, THE PHILOSOPHER, WHO WROTE OVER 200 YEARS AGO THAT +YOU CAN NEVER PLAN THE FUTURE BY THE PAST, MR SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT BURKE WAS RIGHT IN THE SENSE THAT WHAT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE THE RIGHT FORMULA, IN ONE PLACE, AT ONE TIME WAS NOT AUTOMATICALLY RIGHT FOR ANOTHER PLACE AND ANOTHER TIME.

→AND THIS IS WHY IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, HONG KONG PEOPLE MUST INDICATE THEIR PREFERENCE FOR AND DEVELOP, THE SYSTEM WHICH WILL WORK BEST FOR THEM,+ HE ADDED.

+MEANWHILE, WHETHER OR NOT ONE CAN PLAN THE FUTURE BY THE PAST, A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, MUST PLAN FOR THE FUTURE WITH ALL THE WISDOM AND RESOURCES IT CAN COMMAND, HE SAID.

+

MR SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD LIVED WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF 1997 FOR MANY YEARS, AND ITS PLANNING HAD FOR YEARS EXTENDED UP TO AND BEYOND THAT DATE.

+ LOOK AT THE ENORMOUS INVESTMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE AREA OF HONG KONG LEASED TO 1997 LOOK AT THE CREATION OF THE NEW TOWNS, LOOK AT OUR RESERVOIRS AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

/+BY THE