XN000022-1994-10-05 — Page 38

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1994.

32

MR PATTEN SAID GIVEN THIS BACKGROUND, IT WAS REMARKABLE TO NOTE HOW WELL. THE SYSTEM HAD WORKED IN PRACTICE.

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF BILLS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS INCREASED BY 17 PER CENT.

THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS RAISED BY MEMBERS HAS INCREASED BY 200 PER CENT.

THE NUMBER ADDITIONAL WORK HAS

OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSIONS ΤΟ HANDLE INCREASED BY 44 PER CENT.

THE

"PRACTICE HAS SHOWN THAT ACCOUNTABILITY OILS THE WHEELS OF OUR CONSTITUTION. HONG KONG GETS THE LEGISLATION IT NEEDS, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVEN THE RESOURCES IT REQUIRES TO DELIVER THE SERVICES WHICH THE COMMUNITY WANTS.

"THE SYSTEM WORKS, AND THERE IS NO CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CONCEPT ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT AND THAT OF EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT, HE

OF SAID.

GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR SUCCESS OF LEGCO ELECTIONS

THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE UP AN IMMEDIATE TASK TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

A RECORD NUMBER OF VOTERS

REGISTERED.

2.45 MILLION

HAVE BEEN

THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SPEND $102 MILLION ON NEXT YEAR'S REGISTRATION EXERCISE AND $31 MILLION ON PROMOTING NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

LAST

ADDRESSING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR PATTEN SAID IN THE RESORT, THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE ELECTIONS WOULD NOT DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT OR THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY IT SPENT ON THEM.

WITH

"THE ELECTIONS CAN ONLY BE COUNTED A SUCCESS IF WE END UP A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHOSE MEMBERS COMMAND THE COMMUNITY'S RESPECT.

"HONG KONG WILL ACHIEVE THIS GOAL ONLY IF WE HAVE PUBLIC- SPIRITED MEN AND WOMEN OF THE RIGHT CALIBRE TO STAND FOR ELECTION AND THE POLITICAL PARTIES OFFER A GENUINE CHOICE OF BOTH INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES AND PARTY PROGRAMMES," HE SAID.

IF

HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT IF HONG KONG PEOPLE WISHED THE INSTITUTIONS OF A FREE AND PLURAL SOCIETY TO SURVIVE, WHATEVER THE OCCASIONAL THREATS OF TURBULENCE, THEY WOULD DO SO.

"CIVIC

PUBLIC

CONSCIOUSNESS AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND PARTICIPATION IN RUNNING THE COMMUNITY'S AFFAIRS, ARE HERE TO STAY."

/MR PATTEN