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public who, in fact, were put in an inferior position as the emperors were always high above them. People had no right to decide on national affairs. In Hong Kong, humanism has always been used as a means to cheat the public who ask for democracy. Such a phenomenon is as poor as before and is even getting worse recently.
Of course, 'DEMOCRACY' is a very different thing. Democracy means democratic government (a government with a political system in which the elected representatives of all adult citizens have a part to play; it also means a government which encourages and allows rights of citizenship such as freedom of speech, religion, opinion, and association, the assertion of rule by law, majority rule, and respect for the rights of minorities.
Democracy means that the interests of the people are put in the first place and laws must be made with the consent of the representatives of the people, officials of the Government must act as told by the people and must be responsible to the people. In other words, government officials are servants of the people and the supreme power is only vested in the people. Only through this system can the people be aware of the close relationship between them and national affairs. The resources of society can be shared and enjoyed reasonably by people of all social strata. Only this kind of government should be the government for the people and only such form of society is really good.
The Three People's Principles put forward by Dr. SUN Yat-sen in the past was a doctrine through which the Chinese race can move towards democracy and it has been observed for more than 70 years. It is a pity that nowadays some people of Hong Kong still think that the development towards democracy is going too fast. Hong Kong has been under colonial rule and our compatriots have been ruled by a foreign nation. Now sad it is for us, being descendants of Huang Di, to think of this!
It is most regrettable that some people even try to stand in the way of democracy by all means and some people still think that democracy comes too quickly. Even the Hong Kong Government goes with the tide and echoes these views. The so-called 'main stream proposal' is but a trick.
Be quick to turn round, those who are against democracy. It is because history proves the Chinese maxim 'the net of Heaven has large meshes, but it lets nothing through.' If you are still against democracy and obstinately stick to a wrong course, you will finally be subject to the criticisms of historians in the days to come. As a deceased Chinese politician said in his poem, 'All affairs of the world happen very suddenly. The universe keeps on changing while the time runs short. Ten thousand years' too long! And we have to seize every minute. The four seas and five continents are in such a state of turmoil and uproar. We have to eliminate all the scum and become the unbeatable.'
However, I also have some opinion about the struggle for democracy. Firstly, democracy has to come from the people. Secondly, democracy has to be founded on patriotism. Thirdly, democracy has to grow in the course of unity. Fourthly, do not be taken in by the so-called 'consultation'.
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I also hope that all Hong Kong people love both the country and Hong Kong. We should fight for democracy with adherence to this principle. I appeal to all Hong Kong people for their support for democracy since there are no human rights and responsible government without democracy. While we are fighting for democracy, we should have more discussions on the relationship between the Executive Authorities and the Legislature. This is a very important matter. This will enable Hong Kong people to understand the various merits of being 'executive orientated' and 'legislature orientated' political systems.
Urban Council affairs:
This year, the Council is going to provide some major facilities, such as the Cultural Centre and the Museum of Science and Technology, which will provide first-rate services in culture, science and visual arts. This is heartening and encouraging. However, for the required land and future expenses of the Council, we have to rely on the support of the community and Government's help.
In recent years, the Council has made some progress through continuous reviews and reforms. I sincerely hope that the Council will make persistent efforts in modernization and reforms so as to enable the future Council to enjoy the support of all Hong Kong citizens and to continue to grow.
MR. FREDERICK K. K. FUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, after the publication of the Draft Agreement on the Future of Hong Kong by the British and Chinese Governments on 26 September 1984, which was formally signed in mid-1985, the basic direction and target in respect of political, economic, legal, human rights foreign, cultural and religious affairs in Hong Kong after 1997 were thus set.
Subsequently, China set up the Drafting and Consultative Committees for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to discuss and draft the Basic Law. The Drafting Committee had also laid down a working schedule for the drafting of the Basic Law and resolved that there would be two rounds of consultation on Hong Kong people's views.
In April 1988, the Drafting Committee published "The Draft Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (for Solicitation of Opinions)" intending to consult the views of Hong Kong people within a five-month consultation period. A total of 70,000 submissions were received. The Consultative Committee for the Basic Law published a Consultation Report in October 1988.
At the meeting of the Subgroup on Political Structure held on 19 November, members were given an amended version of 'Louis Cha's proposal', which was regarded as a discussion paper. Finally, it won the support of an absolute majority of the members and 'Louis Cha's proposal' thus became the 'mainstream proposal', which was called the 'compromise proposal' by the two Deputy Secretaries General.
Page 137 of 182
Page 137 of 182
264
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
public who, in fact, were put in an inferior position as the emperors were always high above, them. People had no right to decide on national affairs. In Hong Kong, humanism has always been used as a means to cheat the public who ask for democracy. Such a phenomenon is as poor as before and is even getting worse recently.
Of course, 'DEMOCRACY' is a very different thing. Democracy means de- mocratic government (a government with a political system in which the elected representatives of all adult citizens have a part to play; it also means a govern- ment which encourages and allows rights of citizenship such as freedom of speech, religion, opinion, and assocication, the assertion of rule by law, jority rule, and respect for the rights of minorities.
ma-
Democracy means that the interests of the poeple are put in the first place and laws must be made with the consent of the representatives of the people, officials of the Government must act as told by the people and must be respon- sible to the people. In other words, government officials are servants of the people and the supreme power is only vested in the people. Only through this system can the people be aware of the close relationship between them and national affairs. The resources of society can be shared and enjoyed reasonably by people of all social strata. Only this kind of government should be the government for the people and only such form of society is really good.
The Three People's Principles put forward by Dr. SUN Yat-sen in the past was a doctrine through which the Chinese race can move towards democracy and it has been observed for more than 70 years. It is a pity that nowadays some people of Hong Kong still think that the development towards democracy is going too fast. Hong Kong has been under colonial rule and our compatriots have been ruled by a foreign nation. Now sad it is for us, being descendants of Huang Di, to think of this!
It is most regrettable that some people even try to stand in the way of democracy by all means and some people still think that democracy comes too quickly. Even the Hong Kong Government goes with the tide and echoes these views. The so-called 'main stream proposal' is but a trick.
Be quick to turn round, those who are against democracy. It is because his- tory proves the Chinese maxim 'the net of Heaven has large meshes, but it lets nothing through.' If you are still against democracy and obstinately stick to a wrong course, you will finally be subject to the criticisms of historians in the days to come. As a deceased Chinese politician said in his poem, ‘All affairs of the world happen very suddenly. The universe keeps on changing while the time runs short. Ten thousand years' too long! And we have to seize every minute. The four seas and five continents are in such a state of turmoil and uproar. We have to eliminate all the scum and become the unbeatable.'
However, I also have some opinion about the struggle for democracy. Firstly, democracy has to come from the people. Secondly, democracy has to be founded on patriotism. Thirdly, democracy has to grow in the course of unity. Fourthly, do not be taken in by the so-called 'consultation'.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 137 of 182
265
I also hope that all Hong Kong people love both the country and Hong kong. We should fight for democracy with adherence to this principle. I appeal to all Hong Kong people for their support for democracy since there are no human rights and responsible government without democracy. While we are fighting for democracy, we should have more discussions on the relationship be- tween the Executive Authorities and the Legislature. This is a very important matter. This will enable Hong Kong people to understand the various merits of being 'executive orientated' and 'legislature orientated' political systems.
Urban Council affairs:
This year, the Council is going to provide some major facilities, such as the Cultural Centre and the Museum of Science and Technology, which will pro- vide first-rate services in culture, science and visual arts. This is heartening and encouraging. However, for the required land and future expenses of the Coun- cil, we have to rely on the support of the community and Government's help.
In recent years, the Council has made some progress through continuous re- views and reforms. I sincerely hope that the Council will make persistent efforts in modernization and reforms so as to enable the future Council to enjoy the support of all Hong Kong citizens and to continue to grow.
MR. FREDERICK K. K. FUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, after the publi- cation of the Draft Agreement on the Future of Hong Kong by the British and Chinese Governments on 26 September 1984, which was formally signed in mid-1985, the basic direction and target in respect of political, economic, legal, human rights foreign, cultural and religious affairs in Hong Kong after 1997 were thus set.
Subsequently, China set up the Drafting and Consultative Committees for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to discuss and draft the Basic Law. The Drafting Committee had also laid down a working schedule for the drafting of the Basic Law and resolved that there would be two rounds of consultation on Hong Kong people's views.
In April 1988, the Drafting Committee published "The Draft Basic Law' of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (for Solicitation of Opinions) intending to consult the views of Hong Kong people within a five-month consultation period. A total of 70 000 sub- missions were received. The Consultative Committee for the Basic Law published a Consultation Report in October 1988.
At the meeting of the Subgroup on Political Structure held on 19 November, members were given an amended version of 'Louis Cha's proposal', which was regarded as a discussion paper. Finally, it won the support of an absolute ma- jority of the members and 'Louis Cha's proposal' thus became the 'mainstream proposal', which was called the 'compromise proposal' by the two Deputy Secretaries General.
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