XN000022-1995-07-12 — Page 33

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CONCLUSION

Mr President, let me end by re-stating the Government's opposition to the motion and the amendment. The rule of law lies at the very heart of our legal system and the legal institutions that have developed here. It plays a crucial role in securing our stability and prosperity, to the extent of rendering Hong Kong's fair and decent society the envy of many the world over. The Hong Kong Government, like the courts, the lawyers and this Council, has been striving to preserve the rule of law enjoyed by members of the public in Hong Kong. People in Hong Kong are justly proud to live in a free, prosperous, open and pluralistic society. However, the rule of law ultimately depends on the will of the courts, lawyers, government, and legislature, as well as the confidence of the community and the institutions. The confidence of the public should not be undermined by bold assertions and accusations based on no justifiable grounds.

Mr President, let me ask what this motion and amendment can offer the people of Hong Kong. The answer is NOTHING -- simply nothing. Moreover, the motion and the amendment are founded on premises that are wholly wrong. The future of our legal system will be very much the same, if not better, shape as the one in which we now take pride.

A few members painted a picture of the rule of law being swept away as if by some evil deluge of Biblical proportions at the stroke of midnight on 30 June 1997. Such dire predictions are unbecoming those Honourable Members of this Council and can in no way be justified as responsible behaviour by legislators looked up to as leaders of our community. Is this all that can be offered by certain Council members to the people of Hong Kong in this their supposed hour of need? Such a vision is a recipe for despair and offers no sustenance -- spiritual or otherwise -- for our society.

I for one totally reject such a doomsday scenario. The Government offers hope to the people of Hong Kong -- hope through action. Otherwise, the 180,000 members of the Civil Service including the 1,000 members of my Chambers would not have toiled so hard over the past three years to preserve and enhance the rule of law and so make this a better place for all of us in which to live for now and the future. We firmly believe that, through our labours, we have, far from damaging the rule of law, done much to preserve and enhance it. We shall continue to do so, for the benefit of the community and the generations to come. We totally reject the motion and the amendment presented today and urge Honourable Members to do the same.

End/Wednesday, July 12, 1995