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SCMP Reporter

I NOTE your interview in the Sunday Morning Post on February 11 with Mr C.Y. Leung, vice-chair of the Preparatory Committee. I read what Mr Leung had to say with great interest.

  I fully agree with him that Hong Kong needs to have a territory-wide debate on its economic future. I would also like to see all sectors of society take this matter up urgently.

  It would help to promote discussion if there could be one or more bodies organising and co-ordinating forums for the different sectors to put forward their views. It would also be helpful if experts could be asked to produce discussion papers to stimulate wide-ranging debates.

  Indeed, I have been promoting such a project to leading members of the business community over the last 10 months.

  I am still hopeful that a genuine, independent and thorough process could be put in place in the near future.

  One of the issues I believe should also be looked at is demographic changes - here, Mr Leung and I seem to also be in agreement. I can't agree with him more that Hong Kong should control who from the mainland should be permitted to live in Hong Kong after 1997.

  Currently, the 150 per day one-way permits are controlled by China.

  Mr Leung rightly asks a very important question, one that I asked in my first Alternative Policy Address in October 1994: what kind of society and economy do we want?   My view is that we can have what we want, but we must choose.

  Along with looking at the economy and how Hong Kong can best capitalise on opportunities, I believe there should also be a debate on how Hong Kong can further develop its social assistance programme.

  There is fear among the business community that Hong Kong would go down the road of 'welfarism'.

  Having said that, the business community is in principle not against giving greater assistance to those in need.

  The challenge over the next few years is for the community to define 'need' and the basis upon which public funds should be used.

  To do so successfully, a wide public debate must take place.

  In this important debate, business leaders must also be prepared to participate actively. Another important issue Mr Leung highlighted is education.

  Hong Kong must ensure that the education which it provides for its people will remain of a high quality so that our people will be able to compete internationally over the last two years.

  I have written extensively about the kind of education our young people need.

  This is an area where all the stakeholders should be invited to map out an agenda.

  CHRISTINE LOH Legislative Councillor 



Welcoming debate