XN000022-1987-11-15 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1987

NOT UNREASONABLE FOR GOVT TO REPLY TO CRITICISMS

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT RECENT REMARKS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN RESPONSE TO CRITICISM WERE NOT INTENDED TO BE A THREAT, BUT WERE SIMPLY MEANT TO INDICATE THAT IT WAS NOT UNREASONABLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ REPLY WHEN BEING CRITICISED.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE 1987 KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN PARADE AT EDINBURGH PLACE, MR OFFICIAL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND A SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO CRITICISM, CONFRONTATIONAL POLITICS.

FORD SAID AS THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, HE AND HE WAS NOT SEEKING

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"WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS THAT OVER THE YEARS RECENTLY, WITH THE WIDENING OF THE REPRESENTATION THERE WE'VE HAD MORE LIVELY DEBATES, I THINK THAT'S ΤΟ BE ENCOURAGED, I THINK THAT'S TO BE WELCOMED AS I'VE SAID SO IN MY SPEECH, AND THAT LIVELY DEBATES WOULD LEAD TO CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT. I THINK THAT'S INEVITABLE," HE SAID.

"I'VE HEARD IT SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB WAS ΤΟ SIT AND LISTEN, BUT NOT TO REPLY, BUT MY JOB AS THE CHIEF OFFICIAL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS ALSO TO REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT'S POINT OF VIEW. I'M THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, AND 1 THINK THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO CRITICISM,' HE ADDED.

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MR FORD SAID SOME PEOPLE HAD SAID THAT HIS REMARKS AT LAST WEDNESDAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS A BIT TOO FORCEFUL, BUT IN FACT, HE SAID, THEY WERE QUITE MILD WHEN COMPARING WITH THE ACCUSATIONS MADE IN THE POLICY DEBATE WHICH WERE INDEED VERY UKITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNOR,

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"I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME OF MY REMARKS HAD BEEN TAKEN AS A THREAT. I TOOK VERY CAREFUL CRINESE ADVICE ABOUT THEM. THEY CERTAINLY WERE NOT INTENDED IN ANY WAY TO BE A THREAT. THEY WERE SIMPLY MEANT TO INDICATE THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS CRITICISED, IT WAS NOT UNREASONABLE FOR US TO REPLY," HE SAID.

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MR FORD SAID THE REAL BUSINESS OF THE LEGISLATIVE TO GET ON WITH POLICY DEBATES AND DISCUSSING POLICIES AND NOT PERSONALITIES.

"I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO AND I HOPE THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN, HE SAID.

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MR FORD DISAGREED WITH A SUGGESTION THAT HIS REMARKS MIGHT SOME COUNCILLORS OFF IN FUTURE FROM BEING SO STRONGLY CRITICAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

"I'M SURE IT WILL NOT. IT WAS CERTAINLY NOT INTENDED THAT WAY,

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HE SAID.

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