XN000022-1987-07-15 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1987

CONVERSELY, IF THE MAJORITY WAS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS AT A LATER DATE, GOVERNMENT WAS DUTY BOUND TO TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS SO EXPRESSED, HE SAID.

HE BELIEVED THAT MOST PEOPLE APPRECIATED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS. IT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF ITS IMPLICATIONS. A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THESE IMPLICATIONS WOULD CERTAINLY ENABLE THOSE WHO INTENDED TO EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS TO FORM THEIR VIEWS INTELLIGENTLY.

MR WONG ALSO URGED THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS AND SUBMIT THEIR CONSIDERED VIEWS TO THE SURVEY OFFICE ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 1987.

HE SAID THAT CRUCIAL TO THIS EXERCISE WAS THE SILENT MAJORITY. THEY MUST NOT REMAIN SILENT, IF THE CONSULTATION WAS TO BE MEANINGFUL, HE STRESSED.

IN THIS RESPECT, THE GOVERNMENT MUST SPARE NO EFFORTS IN REACHING OUT TO THEM, HE SAID,

THAT BACH

"EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO BRING HOME THE FACT, THROUGH THE NUMEROUS CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATIONS AND IN PARTICULAR THE MEDIA, POLITICAL REFORM IS IMPORTANT. IT AFFECTS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AND EVERYONE OF US WHO LIVE IN HONG KONG,' HE SAID.

IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND IN THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG, THE PUBLIC MUST BE PREPARED TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN. AND DID 80 CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR. IN THIS WAY AND THIS WAY ALONE COULD DEMOCRACY BE ATTAINED, HE ADDED.

AND

MR WONG SAID THAT HE BELIEVED IN PRACTICAL POLITICS, IN REALISM AND NOT IDEALISM, IN RECONCILIATION AND NOT CONFRONTATION ABOVE ALL, IN COMPROMISE AND THE VIRTUE OF PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE.

"WHATEVER CHANGES MAY BE INTRODUCED IN 1988, I AM THAT GIVEN GOOD SENSE AND OUR EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD, CONTINUE TO BE STABLE AND PROSPEROUS,

HE SAID.

HONG

CONFIDENT KONG WILL

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