XN000022-1988-03-16 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1988

MRS FAN ALSO SAID SHE HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY LOBBYISTO WHOSE MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT PUBLIC OPINION HAD BEEN IGNORED, AND THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD BOWED TO PRESSURE FROM CHINA.

"ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THEIR FEELINGS AND THEIR SINCERITY, I

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DO NOT SHARE THE SAME VIEW, SHE SAID.

SHE SAID THAT CONTRARY TO THE LOBBYISTS' BELIEF THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD USED THE AGB MCNAIR SURVEYS TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC, SHE BELIEVED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD GENUINELY CONSIDERED THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY ALI. SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE EMPHASIS PLACED ON THE AGB MCNAIR SURVEYS BY THE LOBBYISTS WAS MISPLACED.

IN ADDITION, TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY OFFICIALS IN CHINA, WHICH DID HAVE AN EXCEPTIONALLY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HONG KONG, WAS WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT A SENSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT TO DO.

IN REJECTING LOBBYISTS' CLAIMS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS A LIABILITY TO THE PEOPLE, MRS FAN POINTED TO THE SOCIAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

"HOW CAN. A GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS ACHIEVED SUCH RESULTS BE A LIABILITY?" SHE ASKED.

HER CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE WHITE PAPER SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.

MRS FAN SAID THERE WERE BOUND то BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AMONG MEMBERS. "BUT IN THE MIDST OF HEATED DEBATE, LET US ALL TAKE NOTE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT WORKS FOR THE INTEREST OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, SHE ADDED.

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"DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD, HONG KONG NEEDS ALL ITS TALENTS то WORK IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION FOR A BETTER FUTURE. LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.

INTEREST

"THEREFORE, SHOULD WE NOT ILLUSTRATE BY OUR DEEDS AND OUR WORDS THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, TO ENHANCE THEIR IN EVERY ASPECT, AND THAT WE CAN WORK IN HARMONY?"

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