XN000022-1991-02-20 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1991

ABOUT THE

HONG KONG OF THOSE

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN SAID NEED FOR A MORE PARTICIPATORY FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO EVOLVE THE SYSTEM TO TAKE ACCOUNT VIEWS. NOW IS THE TIME TO SEE THAT WORKING IN PRACTICE AND IT NEEDS A TO TAKE GREAT DEAL MORE THAN TALK. IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED

TO PART IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS; IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TAKE THE TIME, THE TROUBLE AND GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFICULTIES OF STANDING FOR ELECTION, OR SUPPORTING THOSE WHO DO STAND FOR ELECTION, AND AT A LOWER ORDER, IT REQUIRES PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND THEN OF ACTUALLY TO TURN OUT TO VOTE. ALL OF THAT NEEDS EFFORT; ALL

KONG OUR THAT NEEDS COMMITMENT. WE'VE HAD, OVER MANY YEARS IN HONG OWN PARTICULAR POLITICAL SYSTEM; WE'VE HAD VERY MANY PEOPLE; HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THAT POLITICAL SYSTEM IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, ADVISORY CAPACITIES; APPOINTED MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE SERVED US VERY WELL INDEED AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. WE ARE NOW MOVING TO ANOTHER STAGE IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SERVE HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO DO SO IN A MORE DIRECT WAY; TAKING PART IN ELECTIONS: DOING THINGS WHICH PERHAPS BY CUSTOM AND TRADITION, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN USED TO DOING; TAKING PART IN

THAT PUBLIC ARGUMENTS ON THE HUSTINGS,

IS SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE FROM A TRADITIONAL BACKGROUND WHO HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL UP TO NOW.

THE BUT THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED NOW FOR THE SAKE OF BUILDING UP LEADERSHIP OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE. SO I HOPE AS A FINAL POINT TO MAKE THAT IN THIS YEAR, 1991 WHICH IS OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE IN EVOLVING OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE; AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE; WILLING, ACTIVELY TO TAKE PART IN THAT POLITICAL PROCESS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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