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Let me give an example. I certainly don't want to see co-operative arrangements between employers and employees that have worked pretty well in the work-place for many years wrecked for the sake of a few short-term headlines. But I do recognise - all of us should do so after the exposure, often by the unions, of labour abuses in the last few months that the dialogue between employers and work-force has to be on the basis of partnership.

I'm obliged by the undertakings enshrined in the Joint Declaration to protect Hong Kong's freedoms and to continue the process of a steady democratisation of our government, a process which it is agreed should continue beyond 1997. And I'm also obliged to stand up for Hong Kong's civil servants, our system of government, and the measures that have made our economy strong and our society stable.

I'm going to strike a balance and I hope others will too.

Hong Kong's political life is incredibly moderate; think of what happens elsewhere; think of the challenges and doubts that we have to overcome.

It is in everyone's interest that our politics stay moderate. The Preparatory Committee. LegCo. The Government. All of us can play a part in securing that objective.

Realism. Prudence. Generosity of spirit. And the interests of Hong Kong. They all point in this same direction.

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DGT to attend APEC Senior Officials Meeting in Manila

The Director-General of Trade, Mr Tony Miller, will depart for Manila, the Philippines, tomorrow (Monday) to attend this year's first Senior Officials Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) to be held between February 7 and 9 to prepare for the APEC Ministerial Meeting later this year.

Mr Miller will lead a Hong Kong delegation comprising officials from the Trade and Industry Branch, the Financial Services Branch, the Industry Department, the Government Supplies Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore and the Trade Department.