XN000022-1990-02-28 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1990

TIME TO START AFRESH

RELATIONSHIP

NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO REVIEW THE PAST AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE

OUR THE FUTURE OF

WITH CHINA AND THE FUTURE OF OUR OWN PEOPLE.

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THE CALL ON THE COMMUNITY TO START AFRESH CAME FROM THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON ALLEN LEE, WHEN LEADING OFF DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL ON HIS MOTION ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.

HIS MOTION READS: "THAT THIS COUNCIL EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE OMELCO CONSENSUS HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED IN THE FORMULATION OF THE FUTURE POLITICAL MODEL BUT URGES THE COMMUNITY, IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, TO BE UNITED IN ITS EFFORTS то ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.

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MR LEE ALSO ASKED THE LEADERS OF CHINA TO UNDERSTAND HONG KONG AND OUR WAY OF LIFE.

"I BELIEVE THAT ONLY THROUGH MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING WILL WE BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE SYSTEM PROMISED BY THE CHINESE LEADERS OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' HE SAID.

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"THIS CONCEPT HAS NEVER BEEN TRIED BY MANKIND AND IN THE OF HONG KONG, WE MUST DO OUR VERY BEST TO ENSURE ITS SUCCESS, ADDED.

CASE HE

MR LEE BELIEVED THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE MUST ESTABLISH A COMMON UNDERSTANDING AND BASIC TRUST WITH CHINA.

"LET US DO OUR PART TO CLOSE THE GAP," HE SAID.

ADMITTING THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, HIMSELF INCLUDED,

DIRECTION HAD NOT THOUGHT IN THIS

BEFORE, MR LEE ASKED:

"IF, AS LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE WERE TO ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF NOT WE TRUSTING CHINA, HOW COULD WE EXPECT CHINA TO TRUST US? IF WE THINK

DO CAN CONSTRUCT BLOCKADES IN ORDER TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF YOU THINK THE CHINESE REACTION WOULD BE?"

LIFE, WHAT

MR LEE EXPRESSED GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE OMELCO CONSENSUS MODEL ON THE PACE OF DEMOCRACY WAS NOT ADOPTED IN THE BASIC LAW, DESPITE MEMBERS' TIRELESS EFFORTS IN SCRUTINISING AND STUDYING THE VARIOUS OPTIONS PROPOSED.

HE ADMITTED THAT IN THE CASE OF DEMOCRACY, OMELCO HAD FAILED THE HONG KONG PEOPLE ALTHOUGH MEMBERS HAD DISCHARGED THEIR DUTIES HONOURABLY. THIS WAS BECAUSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, HONG KONG WERE NOT MASTERS OF THEIR OWN DESTINY.

"WE RELIED ON THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LACK OF GOODWILL AND TRUST," HE SAID.

PEOPLE

WHILST

/MR LEE

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