When I first came from Britain to live in Hong Kong 21 years ago, to a colony where very few people had the right to vote, it struck me that Hong Kong was the most democratic place that I had ever discovered. People only had to write a letter to the newspapers, or telephone into a chat show, and almost immediately there would be a reaction from a government department, either justifying the situation as it was, or looking into ways of improving things. I was most impressed. Governments and politicians should not be upset when they are publicly criticised - it is just not possible to please all of the people all of the time. However, as long as people feel that they can freely voice an opinion via the media the people in power are free to ignore if they consider the complaint is ridiculous, justify if they feel strongly that the status quo is superior, but can sometimes learn and adapt if their policies are lacking in some way. It would be a disaster for Hong Kong if freedom of speech were to be lost either suddenly or gradually. The fact that Hong Kong is one of the few places in Asia which has this freedom continues to give it a very special reputation world-wide. As children we are taught that 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me'. It is difficult to be in a position of power and to feel one is being unjustly criticised, but those in a position of power, have to develop a 'thick skin' and remember that as long as members of the population do not feel threatened by voicing open opinions, the Government will better be able to gauge the success of their rule. Until a much larger percentage of Hong Kong's six million people are all complaining, the chances are that most people agree with what is being done. FRANCES BRECHIN Tai Hang
