XN000022-1987-11-11 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1987

"THIS REFLECTS THE SOLEMN OBLIGATION WHICH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION, THAT IT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG WITH THE OBJECT OF MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING ITS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND SOCIAL STABILITY.

"IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT FACT THAT THE CONTINUATION OF GOOD GOVERNMENT UP TO AND BEYOND 1997 DEPENDS VERY HEAVILY ON THE EXISTING BODY OF PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ADVISERS."

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT A MACHINE.

"IT IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE: PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE, WHO CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN; PEOPLE

WHO, ABOVE ALL, CARE DEEPLY ABOUT HONG KONG.

"YET IT IS THESE VERY PEOPLE WHOM SOUGHT TO DENIGRATE IN THEIR SPEECHES.

MR LEE AND MR PANG HAVE

KONG GOVERNMENT

ΤΟ

"1T IS ALSO INCUMBENT UPON THE HONG CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOUND ADMINISTRATION IN THE TERRITORY, AND TO EXERCISE RESPONSIBLY THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY WHICH IT ALREADY ENJOYS UNDER THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND WHICH THE FUTURE HONG KONG SAR WILL ENJOY UNDER THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WE DETERMINED TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.

+

GOVERNMENT

OF THE

ARE

MR FORD SAID MR LEE AND MR PANG DID A GRAVE DISSERVICE ΤΟ COMMUNITY BY TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE CREDIBILITY OF ADMINISTRATION.

"FOR THE LIFE OF ME I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT TO ACHIEVE.

"IF THEY ARE PLAYING POLITICS THEY ARE INDEED DANGEROUS GAME, BECAUSE THE FACT IS THAT THE STABILITY AND OF THIS COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON THE CREDIBILITY AND AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATION,

THE

THE

THEY HOPE

PLAYING A PROSPERITY OF THIS

"THIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REMINDED OF ITS DUTY BY MR LEE AND MR PANG,

AWARE THAT

"EVERY SENIOR MEMBER OF THIS GOVERNMENT IS ACUTELY WE MUST RETAIN THE TRUST OF THE PROPLE OF HONG KONG; THAT EVERY

MOVE THAT POLICY, EVERY ACTION AND EVERY

WE MAKE MUST HAVE THE MAJORITY SUPPORT, AND BE IN THE INTEREST OF, THE

OF THE

OF PEOPLE

HONG KONG.

"INDEED, OUR ABILITY TO GOVERN DEPENDS AS MUCH NOW, AS IT IN THE PAST, UPON THAT TRUST AND THAT SUPPORT, HE ADDED.

HAS

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