ALTHOUGH HE DEALT IMMEDIATELY WITH THE QUESTION OF THE
FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR MADE VERY CLEAR WHAT HE DESCRIBE AS THE TWO MAJOR TASKS FOR NEXT YEAR - THE LONG-TERM STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
OF HONG KONG AND EDUCATION. ON DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID THE AMBITIOUS
NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME STARTED IN THE 1970S SHOULD BE LARGELY
COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE DECADE AND THE TIME HAD NOW COME TO
LOOK FURTHER AHEAD TO ENSURE THAT **WE SHALL BE ABLE TO MAINTA IN
THE MOMENTUM OF OUR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR HOUSING, EDUCATION AND OTHER SOCIAL
PROGRAMMES.'' A DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WAS NEEDED TO MEET HK'S
LONG-TERM NEEDS INTO THE 1990S AND THE NEXT CENTURY. ON EDUCATON,
THE OTHER MAJOR TASK, HE SAID IT WAS NOW NECESSARY TO TAKE A
FRESH LOOK AT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AS A WHOLE TO ENSURE THAT IT
WOULD CONTINUE TO MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT
IT REMAINED GEARED TO THE FUTURE NEEDS OF HK. (DETAILS OF HIS
REMARKS ON THESE TWO ISSUES ARE CONTAINED IN THE FOLLOWING
GENERAL SUMMARY OF SIR EDWARD'S ADDRESS).
WORK OF LEGCO:
THE GOVERNOR GAVE AN OUTLINE OF THE
LEGISLATION PASSED BY LEGCO LAST YEAR AND NOTED THAT MAJOR ITEMS
OF LEGISLATION EXPECTED TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL INCLUDED
AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCES
TO IMPROVE THE FRAMEWORK OF REGULATION OF THESE INSTITUTIONS:
LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THE HIRE PURCHASE AND OUTBOUND TRAVEL
INDUSTRIES, TO PROVIDE IMPROVED SICKNESS AND SEVERANCE PAY BENEFITS
FOR EMPLOYEES, TO ESTABLISH A SECOND POLYTECHNIC, TO AMEND THE
CROWNS LANDS RESUMPTION ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
FOR LAND RESUMED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND TO REVISE AND UPDATE HK'S
LAW ON PROPERTY AND CONVEYANCING.
ON THE RECENTLY EXPANDED MEBERSHIP OF EXCO AND LEGCO,
THE GOVERNOR SAID: ''THE YET LARGER MAJORITY WHICH THE UNOFFIC.PAL
MEMBERS NOW HOLD IN THESE COUNCILS MEANS THAT, IN SEEKING TO FORMULATE POLICIES AND MAKE LAWS WHICH REFLECT THE AMBITIONS, THE HOPES AND BEST INTERESTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE
ADMINISTRATION AND HAVE ACCESS TO A STILL WIDER RANGE OF OPINION AND ADVICE. WELCOME THIS WIDER REPRESENTATION, AND THE IMPROVED
LINKS WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WHICH IT
PROVIDES.
'WITH SUCH A DIVERSE CHAMBER, HOPE THERE WILL BE EVEN GREATER SCOPE FOR THE SORT OF LIVELY DEBATE WHICH WAS RECENTLY
HEARD IN THIS COUNCIL ON THE OVERALL REVIEW OF EDUCATION. FOR
IT IS IN DEBATE THAT THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL FINDS PUBLIC
EXPRESSION. IT BRINGS PROOF TO THE SCEPTICS THAT THE UNOFFICIALS
WHO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC DO UNDERSTAND AND CARE ABOUT THE ISSUES
OF OUR SOCIETY. IT DEMONSTRATES THE VARIETY OF VIEWS WHICH THE
COMMUNITY HOLDS ABOUT THOSE ISSUES. ABOVE ALL, IT SHOWS REASON
AT WORK IN THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE POWER OF
PERSUASION IN A FREE AND OPEN SOCIETY."
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