XN000022-1993-10-06 — Page 50

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993

"THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG DESERVE A CREDIBLE LEGISLATURE, FAIRLY AND OPENLY ELECTED," HE SAID,

"ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT WOULD SURELY UNDERMINE THE LAW,

AND THAT RULE OF LAW IS ESSENTIAL TO THE MAINTENANCE KONG'S PROSPERITY AND FREEDOM.

"THE ARGUMENT FUSES TOGETHER WHAT IS RIGHT YOU LIKE WITH WHAT IS EXPEDIENT, MR PATTEN SAID.

-

RULE OF

OF HONG

—

WHAT IS MORAL, IF

HONG KONG IS A FREE SOCIETY GOVERNED UNDER THE LAW THAT WORKS. FREEDOM MUST BE FIRMLY ROOTED, AS IT IS FOR EXAMPLE IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, HE SAID.

—

"OTHERWISE HONG KONG WILL SPEND ITS FUTURE FOREVER LOOKING OVER ITS SHOULDER,"

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THE GOVERNOR SAID: 'WE PASSIONATELY WANT HONG KONG TO HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA BEFORE 1997 SO THAT IT CAN PROSPER AND GROW IN STRENGTH AS CHINA PROSPERS AND STRENGTHENS IN THE YEARS AHEAD."

HE SAID THE CHINESE OFFICIALS HAD YET TO BE CONVINCED THAT HONG KONG'S EXTRAORDINARILY MODEST ASPIRATIONS FOR POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT ARE LEGITIMATE, THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE MET, THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE NATURAL EVOLUTION OF AN INCREASINGLY MATURE AND SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY, AND THAT THEY ARE, IN A SENSE, A CONDITION OF OUR CONTINUING SUCCESS AS A GREAT INTERNATIONAL TRADING COMMUNITY.

THE

"THESE ASPIRATIONS POSE NO THREAT TO CHINA NOW, NOR IN FUTURE. INDEED, THE CONCEPT OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' SHOULD ACCOMMODATE THEM COMFORTABLY."

MR PATTEN SAID THE ARGUMENT WAS NOT ABOUT WHETHER TO ACCELERATE THE PACE OF DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG.

THE ARGUMENT TURNS ON WHETHER THE AGREED STEPS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY WILL GIVE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE, AND ON WHETHER THOSE STEPS ARE CREDIBLE OR NOT, HE EXPLAINED.

GOVERNOR WISHES TO SEE "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS"

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE WISHED TO SEE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS"

**

"I MUST AND WILL STAND UP FOR OUR SYSTEM. RESPONSIBILITY."

THAT IS MY

BUT MR PATTEN ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD ONLY DEFEND THAT SYSTEM, THAT WAY OF LIFE, WITH THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT.

/"AND I

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