XN000022-1987-11-11 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1987

TERMS. THOSE WHO THEY ARE DEALING

"I REFUTE THEM IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE CONTINUE TO MAKE THEM IN THE MISGUIDED BELIEF THAT WITH A LAME DUCK WILL DISCOVER THAT THEY HAVE A TIGER BY THE TAIL, AND NOT A PAPER TIGER EITHER.

MR FORD ALSO STRESSED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TOTALLY COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO FURTHERING THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

"THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR PRIMARY CONCERN AND REMAINS SO TODAY. I KNOW I SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE OF THE ADMINISTRATION, SIR, WHEN I SAY THAT WE DEEPLY RESENT THE FACT THAT OUR INTEGRITY AND MOTIVATION HAR BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION, HE ADDED.

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HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT AFRAID OF CRITICISM.

'WE ARE QUITE WILLING TO ADMIT THAT WE MAY NOT

GET EVERYTHING RIGHT. INDEED, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING A FREE SOCIETY WHERE DEBATE IS ENCOURAGED AND PEOPLE CAN SPEAK UP AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT."

BUT THAT FREEDOM ALSO INCLUDED THE RIGHT OF THE GOVERNMENT TO REPLY TO CRITICISM, HE SAID.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY WAS REFERRING TO ACCUSATIONS MADE BY THE HON MARTIN LEE AND THE HON PANG CHUN-HOI WHO "HAVE ATTACKED NOT JUST THE ACTIONS AND POLICIES OF THIS GOVERNMENT, BUT HAVE QUESTIONED ITS INTEGRITY.'

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"SUCH ASSERTIONS CANNOT GO UNANSWERED, MR FORD SAID.

MR LEE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD INVITED CHINESE INTERVENTION IN HONG KONG DURING HIS LAST VISIT TO PEKING.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID MR LEE DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW HE REACHED THIS REMARKABLE CONCLUSION.

MR FORD SAID HE BELIEVED THAT A BARRISTER WAS TRAINED ΤΟ PUT HIS ARGUMENTS ON THE BASIS OF FACT AND EVIDENCE.

"YET MR LEE, IN HIS SPEECH, RELIED ON INSINUATION AND INNUENDO WITH NOT A SINGLE SHRED OF EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT HIS SO-CALLED 'CASE' AGAINST THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

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MR FORD NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS HAD PROVIDED CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ITS DETERMINATION TO GOVERN HONG KONG IN THE OVERALL BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

"MANY OF OUR PROGRAMMES AND PLANS ARE DESIGNED TO BRING BENEFITS WELL BEYOND THE END OF THIS CENTURY," HE SAID.

"THIS REFLECTS