2.
H.E. Sir Murray MacLehose.
April 14, 1975
this is true, but who can believe it when the people themselves are not listened to?
If
Criticism of Government in Hong Kong is a self-defeating process. we do not criticise, Government prides itself on having the public fully behind its policies; if we do criticise, senior officials lose face if they change their minds. Once an issue has been made public, there is no way in which ordinary members of the public can influence Government decisions; only the hard-working but totally unrepresentative Government appointees on Legco can do that.
The Tai Shang Wai affait goes much further than the protection of birds. It raises the whole issue of Government accountability to the public... and that means all the public, not just the rich entrepreneurs. It also means on all subjects, not just those on which your Government wishes to consult the public.
On the premise that the decision to approve Tai Shang Wai is being made completely honestly in what your Government believes to be the best interests of Hong Kong, we challenge you to hold a public enquiry before final approval is given... so that the public can participate, and see whether your Government is as genuinely responsive as it professes to be.
Yours faithfully,
Hinchart hubster
Michael Webster.
Circulated to:-
Fred Hechtel.
South China Morning Post, Hongkong Standard, Star, Wah Kiu Yat Pao, Sing Tao Yat Pao.
Conservancy Association, Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, Hong Kong Natural History Society,
International Council for Bird Preservation,
International Union for
the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Fauna Preservation Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Audubon Society. Dr. Lee M. Talbot, Sir Peter Scott. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. etc., etc.
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