XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

THE PWC

A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN SAID IN THIS COUNCIL, AND INDEED OUTSIDE, ABOUT CIVIL SERVANTS' CONTACTS WITH THE PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE (PWC). MUCH THAT WAS SAID WAS, I REGRET, BASED ON A ABOUT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. SO LET ME ONCE AGAIN:

-

MISUNDERSTANDING

CLARIFY

THIS,

SERVANTS'

I REPEAT, NO BAN ON CIVIL FIRST, THERE IS NO BAN CONTACTS WITH MEMBERS OF THE PWC, NOR DO WE SEEK TO DETER SUCH

INDEED, CONTACTS.

THROUGH SUCH

HAVE CONTACTS WE

OFFERED FINANCING INFORMATION TO PWC MEMBERS ON QUESTIONS SUCH AS THE

LAWS, THE OF THE AIRPORT, THE LOCALISATION AND ADAPTATION OF

THROUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STABILITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE

HAVE I HOPE THAT THESE CONTACTS TRANSITION, USEFUL FOR PWC MEMBERS. WE ARE PERFECTLY HAPPY FOR CONTINUE.

AND SO ON.

BEEN

THEM

TO

BUT,

BE

A

SHOULD

OF PART

SECONDLY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR CIVIL SERVANTS NOT

INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY FACE PUT

CONFUSION ROLES. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO HONG KONG PEOPLE, AND AS

THE ADMINISTRATION THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MANY OF THEM ALSO PLAY THEIR PART IN OFFICIAL

SUCH CHANNELS,

AS THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, FOR DISCUSSING ISSUES TRANSITIONAL

WITH THE CHINESE SIDE. THEY HAVE THEIR IT WOULD PROPER DUTIES, WHICH THEY MUST CARRY OUT FAITHFULLY.

IN THE QUITE WRONG TO PUT OUR HARD-PRESSED CIVIL SERVANTS INVIDIOUS POSITION OF HAVING TO ANSWER TO A VARIETY OF BODIES.

THIRDLY, THERE IS NOTHING IN OUR POSITION WHICH DETRACTS THE TRADE UNION RIGHTS, WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY LAW,

IF THEY WISH TO PUT FORWARD SERVICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS. LEGITIMATE VIEWS TO THE PWC IN SUPPORT OF THE AIMS ASSOCIATION, THEY CAN DO SO.

FROM

OF

CIVIL

THEIR

OF

THEIR

THEMSELVES

WE HAVE NO WISH TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE PWC TO TENDER INTEREST OF SOUND ADVICE TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WHICH IS IN THE

THE HONG

IF PWC MEMBERS WISH TO KNOW MORE ABOUT KONG PEOPLE. KONG GOVERNMENT'S POLICY AND PRACTICES, THEY ONLY HAVE TO ASK. THEY HAVE DONE SO IN THE PAST IN A GENUINE DESIRE TO EQUIP FOR THEIR WORK, WE HAVE RESPONDED POSITIVELY AND WITHOUT FANFARE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. BUT IT IS IN NOBODY'S INTEREST, ALL THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, TO POLITICIZE THIS AND

WE ARE NOT INTERESTED BLOW IT OUT OF ALL PROPORTION. SCORING.

HONG WHEN

AND

LEAST OF

ISSUE

IN

POINT-

OPEN SOCIETY

"ONE IT TO PLEDGE. MAXIMISING

MR PRESIDENT AND HONOURABLE MEMBERS, OURS IS AN TOLERANT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS AND PERCEPTION. THE REALISATION OF

TWO SYSTEMS" IS NEVER GOING TO BE EASY. BUT WE OWE COUNTRY, OURSELVES AND TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO HOLD FAST TO THIS WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS BY PUTTING ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES, AND OUR COMMON GROUND. THAT, PLUS AN UNSHAKEABLE FAITH IN

OF

TRIED SUCCESS

OUR JOINT ENTERPRISE, AND HONG KONG'S BLEND OF ASPIRATION AND PRAGMATISM WILL PREVAIL IN THE END. HAVE NO DOUBT.

THE

ULTIMATE

AND

TESTED

OF THAT I

MR PRESIDENT, I SUPPORT THE MOTION.

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