TNAG-2013-FCO40-2865A-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991-1990 — Page 124

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -1 March 1990

香港立法局 -一九九○年三月一日

37

creation of wealth. China's problems stem from not understanding that basic point.

Freedom and democracy

Sir, I prefer freedom to democracy. What is democracy? In fact there are many definitions of democracy. Go to America. They have American "democracy". Go to Europe. They have a European version, different in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Britain and Scandinavia.

Democracy is all too often used as a slogan, but this is to debase it. For 150 years, we do not have in Hong Kong this elusive thing called democracy yet. But, we have freedom. We have all kinds of freedoms. Freedom of the press, travel, association, movement, religion and all administered in a spirit of tolerance.

Freedom is not guaranteed by democracy as expressed by direct election. Consider the examples of India, Philippines, Malaysia and others around this region. Freedom is guaranteed where free men live in dignity under just laws. A lot of times "democracy" fails to guarantee this dignity and justice. For "democracy" in the sense of one man one vote is merely a means to an end. My liberal colleagues do not have a personal line to God via "direct election".

It is not enough to feel that marking a piece of paper with a "X" is sufficient to satisfy the impulse to be free.

Many countries claim to be "democracies". In Africa, north, south, east and west - we see a continent full of so-called "democracies", but which are, in effect, tyrannies. Eastern Europe has, only recently, rid itself of so-called "people's democracies". Indonesia describes itself as a "guided democracy". Even China calls itself a "democracy". Democracy is indeed an elusive thing.

I think democracy succeeds best when it rests on a solid base. Those who create wealth are the true democrats.

What this Council needs, now, and in the future, is a balanced voice, with not only liberals but commercial, financial and industrial sectors also firmly represented through their functional constituencies. The latter can help balance labour, social workers and teachers. Those who produce the wealth should also be encouraged to offer their expertise to the community on how to spend the wealth.

!