XN000022-1996-05-13 — Page 14

· 13

Long-term view urged

Hong Kong people must all take a long-term view of what is good for Hong Kong as a whole and not focus on short-term narrow interests.

Speaking at the Eighth Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar today (Monday) the Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, said, "We must not only believe in the promise enshrined in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law - the promises of a 'high degree of autonomy' and 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong' but above all we must unite to defend the autonomy and freedoms that have been promised us and make it work."

"It has taken Hong Kong many years to refine its institutions, to develop a culture that encouraged honest hard work and eschewed corruption and to build up a reputation for fair play."

"These values are the bedrock of our society. We must preserve and nurture these values if we are to continue to prosper." she said.

Mrs Chan believed that the rule of law, the level playing field and public accountability have been key to Hong Kong's success so far and will be essential elements in its continuing prosperity and stability.

"In Hong Kong today, no one is above the law. Anyone can take the Government to court, and in many cases they will receive legal aid to help them do it." she said.

"The law-making process is open and transparent," she said, adding that all legislative proposals put forward by the Government had to be approved by the Legislative Council, in which the Government had no votes and that the law was enforced impartially and fairly.

On the level playing field, she said Hong Kong prided itself that no-one got a better deal just because of who they were.

"Government contracts are awarded on the basis of the best competitive bid, not on extraneous factors such as nationality of a particular company or who is on its board," she said.

In this regard, Mrs Chan said Hong Kong also had one of the most powerful and efficient anti-corruption organisations in the world.