HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 14 March 1984
67
freedom of speech, employment, investment and movement. On the one hand this is due to the non-intervention policy of the Hong Kong Government, as legislative control is reduced to the minimum; on the other hand, it is because social behaviour is both free and open. The life of the individual is not interferred with as long as he does not contravene the law. Therefore everyone is free to attain his utmost. Fair competition and fair treatment are other major features of Hong Kong. Here we have no class distinction and racial discrimination, etc. Everyone is equal before the law, and everyone is treated equally in various competitions. Different classes enjoy fair chances to work for their future. No matter what one's origin is, as long as one has high aspiration, one's future is equally hopeful. This urges everyone upwards and has resulted in the prosperity we now enjoy in Hong Kong.
If Hong Kong is to continue to enjoy the stability and prosperity after 1997, the two factors mentioned must be preserved. However if the political system is to be changed by that time, how can we ensure that the two factors will continue to be maintained? I have the following views.
In a non-elected government, whether its policies meet the people's approval depends on the government's own tradition and intentions which are beyond the control of the people. If the political system is to be changed after 1997, and if the government by that time is still not an elected one, will the government then still accede to the people's wishes as it does now? Therefore, in order to ensure that the will of Hong Kong people will be respected and realized by the government, I consider that by that time Hong Kong should have established an elected Government. However, we know that not all elected governments practise true democracy. At present, there are too many governments, elected in name but practising false democracy! If we want true democracy, first of all we should actively start to educate all Hong Kong people so that they know what true democracy is, until they are highly conscious of democracy. Only then can we begin to build up a perfect democratic political system gradually. When we have a truly democratic Government, our wishes will be accepted by it and be implemented one by one. The highly free, equal and open society we now love so much can then be assured of its continued existence.
On the issue of the future of Hong Kong, the British Government has assured us that it will seek a solution which will be acceptable to all three parties- China, Britain and Hong Kong. The Chinese Government has also on many occasions invited the people of Hong Kong to express their views on the 1997 issue and has given the people of Hong Kong several guarantees. However, up to the present, neither the British nor the Chinese Government has openly and extensively collected opinions from the people of Hong Kong on:
(1) the 1997 issue; and
(2) the degree of acceptance of any plan for Hong Kong's future.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.