XN000022-1987-11-11 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1987

CS: STRONG ENDORSEMENT OF GOVERNOR'S POLICIES, PLANS

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IT IS CLEAR FROM THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS THẤT, ON THE WHOLE, THE POLICIES AND PLANS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DESCRIBED HAVE RECEIVED THE STRONG ENDORSEMENT OF THE COUNCIL, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR FORD SPOKE ON A RANGE OF SUBJECTS THAT WERE COMMENTED ON BY MEMBERS LAST WEEK. THESE INCLUDED THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT ON THE PUBLIC'S VIEWS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE ROLE OF ADVISORY BODIES, HONGKONG'S RELATIONSHIP

WITH CHINA AND THE ADMINISTRATION AS A WHOLE.

ON THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT, MR FORD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE STUDYING ALL THE VIEWS SENT IN ΤΟ THE SURVEY OFFICE WITH GREAT CARE.

HE SAID THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT HAD REKINDLED THE PUBLIC DEBATE ON WHETHER DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR.

"AS THE REPORT ITSELF INDICATES, THIS IS AN ISSUR ON WHICH VIEWS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY REMAIN DIVIDED," HE SAID.

ΤΟ

NOTING THAT IT WAS NOT SURPRISING THAT THERE WERE DIFFERENCES OF VIEW ON THE PACE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, MR FORD SAID THE WAY RESOLVE THESE DIFFERENCES LAY IN CAREFUL ANALYSIS AND RATIONAL DISCUSSION, BUT NOT IN PRETENDING THAT A VIEW WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FROM ONE'S OWN EITHER DID NOT EXIST OR HAD BEEN FABRICATED BY A THIRD PARTY WITH ULTERIOR MOTIVES.

HE SAID: "IT IS A GREAT PITY THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SOUGHT ΤΟ CAST SERIOUS DOUBT ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE SURVEY OFFICE AND ON THE SINCERITY OF THE GOVERNMENT'S WISH TO CONSULT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,

"THESE ALLEGATIONS HAVE NO BASIS IN FACT. THE GREEN PAPER ON THE 1987 REVIEW IS THERE FOR ALL TO SEE. SO IS THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT. THEY ARE NOT SIMPLE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THE ISSUES WITH WHICH THEY ARE CONCERNED ARE NOT SIMPLE, AS SOME COMMENTATORS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE.

"BUT EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN THE TRUTH CAN STUDY AND FORM HIS OWN CONCLUSION ABOUT THE GENUINENESS OF THE REVIEW."

THEM

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