XN000022-1987-07-15 — Page 43

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1987

WITH THE

THE

HE SAID THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, TOGETHER CHAIRMEN OF THE VARIOUS DISTRICT BOARD COMMITTEES, SHOULD JOIN THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FIRST AS MEMBERS. LATER ON, CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD SHOULD TAKE OVER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTER TO ENSURE THAT WORK WAS CARRIED OUT AND PROBLEMS SOLVED IN LINE WITH THE WISHES OF THE DISTRICT BOARD

CONCERNED.

"SUCH MANAGERIAL PARTICIPATION

IS VITAL ΤΟ THE HARMONIOUS

FUNCTIONING OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HE SAID.

N

REFERRING TO THE REPEATED BALLOT SYSTEM IN ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTIONS, DR CHAM SAID HE FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR A CANDIDATE TO RECEIVE MAJORITY SUPPORT IN HIS CONSTITUENCY.

HE NOTED THAT TWO CRITICISMS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM HAD BEEN ADVANCED IN THE GREEN PAPER. THE FIRST WAS THE TIME TAKEN FOR VOTING AMONG SEVERAL CANDIDATES AND THE SECOND WAS THE DISCERN OF VOTER IDENTITY.

TO OVERCOME THE LENGTH OF TIME TAKEN TO SECURE A RESULT AND IN PARTICULAR TO AVOID FIVE BALLOTS IN SEVEN HOURS, HE SUGGESTED THAT CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVED LESS THAN 15 PER CENT OF THE VOTES IN THE PRELIMINARY ROUND OF VOTING SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. AFTER THE PRELIMINARY BALLOT, IF THERE WERE MORE THAN THREE CANDIDATES REMAINING, ONLY THE LEADING THREE CANDIDATES WOULD PROCEED ΤΟ A SECOND ROUND. HENCE A TOTAL OF THREE ROUNDS OF VOTING WOULD BE NECESSARY.

ON THE DISCERN OF VOTER IDENTITY, THAT WAS WHETHER CANDIDATES WOULD KNOW WHO VOTED FOR WHOM, DR CHAM SAID THE ELECTORS IN AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE MUST ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHOOSING THE BEST CANDIDATE WITHOUT FEELING EMBARRASSED IN AN ELECTION. THERE MUST BE A WINNER AND A LOSER. EVERYONE MUST WORK TOGETHER AFTER A FAIR ELECTION AND SENTIMENTS DURING AN ELECTION MUST BE SET ASIDE. WE MUST ALL ACCEPT THIS.

HE ALSO SAID THAT FEW WOULD DISAGREE THAT THE EXPECTATION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IS FOR CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY. AS SUCH, HONG KONG NEEDED A GOOD GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN A HIGH SOUNDING GOVERNMENT.

"TO PRESERVE THE INCENTIVE AND ENTERPRISE QUALITIES OF OUR SOCIETY, WE MUST HAVE LEADERS WHO MAKE SENSE AND NOT JUST NEWS.

"INDEED, FUTURE LEADERS OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE DOERS RATHER THAN DREAMERS, FOR THE PRAGMATISTS WILL ACHIEVE RESULTS WHILE DREAMERS WHO CONCENTRATE ON WINNING POWER WILL GIVE US ONLY FANTASIES, HE SAID.

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