Bulletin Autumn 1988

political stereotypes o f the West which are considered to be the most beneficial bequest o f colonialism and its most enduring legacy, but rather that the system o f administration, law and language w ill have contrib uted more to peace and stability than, for example, parliamentary democracy. This reflection is particu larly important now, when Hong Kong is taking part in consultation on the Basic Law and our future con stitution. The present emphasis on ensuring that those parts o f the Basic Law for a future Hong Kong which deal w ith general matters o f administration, law ， our constitutional relationship w ith mainland China and the administration o f justice; and a correct solution o f the current debate, here in Hong Kong, on the learning o f language and the language o f teaching, these, in the final analysis, may be more important than a rapid race to put in place political systems which themselves depend upon a quite differ ent order o f society, different social tensions, differ ent organizations and different attitudes to one an other. We have too many examples before us o f the distortions, evasions and destruction o f parliamentary democracy; we have seen how easily it can be swept away ， not to be at least somewhat concerned that what appears to be a splendid system on paper does not in reality produce some very curious results when put into practice. I think we can say w ith some degree o f numerical support not that this is bound to happen here but it is less likely to happen, i f the administra tion, the relationship between various groups in society ， the organizations which have been pains takingly built up over the past th irty or fo rty years, which have now stood the test o f time, are strength ened and preserved. And, for supporting evidence, it is worth observing that many o f these particular admin istrative systems and arrangements are still in place in other former colonies where the political systems which were hastily installed before independence have been either radically altered or been swept away and replaced by despotisms o f one form or another. There are three types o f institution in Hong Kong which have contributed significantly to govern ment by consensus, to stability and to the well-being o f the community: none o f these loom very large in standard political analyses. The first o f these is that o f district administra tion. It is a well-tried system flourishing in country after country, in Asia and Africa. Here in Hong Kong we have not only maintained it in the rural areas but have extended it in recent years to the crowded streets o f our city, and we have given the system the additional support and sensitivity o f an elected district board. The two are complementary components whose nature is essentially political ， being concerned about everything affecting people's lives in a sometimes harsh and demanding urban environ ment; a two-way channel o f communication to and from the anonymous government and the people. Political though it is, administration by district does not have the glamour and excitement o f politics, electoral constituency members and a party system: but its contribution to stability and to nosing out potential problems and explaining difficult policies is incalculable. So much so that one o f the professors o f this University summed it up very neatly in the phrase 'the administrative absorption o f polities'. When words like democracy and direct elections are the catchwords o f the day, the system has few people extolling its virtues; it does not appear in any imported textbook and it is taken very much for granted, but Hong Kong would be a much more turbulent' and discontented community i f this sensitive relay point between the government and governed were removed. Secondly, in more specific matters o f social, political and economic concern, other organizations have been devised to ensure that the people o f Hong Kong and their representatives are closely involved in small and large decisions which affect their lives: edu cation ， health, transport, social services, housing. Those things which matter most to the man in the street, are all the responsibility o f special boards and committees whose members are well-known public figures ， speaking an d answering for the people. And there is always a lively public debate, as distinct from a parliamentary debate, when controversial issues are to be decided. The support and advice these policy advisory boards and committees give to the government and their relationship w ith the ordinary citizen, this com plex matrix o f organizations rooted in the community, is an essential and vital component o f our style o f government which we should nurture, develop and build upon. It has become so much a part o f govern ment that it should not be beyond our ability to adapt it in future to the need to set up the necessary links and constructive tension between the executive, the legislature and the civil service and to meet the requirements o f an elected legislature. We would thus retain the essential features o f the system which has been so painstakingly created and put together over a period o f four decades, and which has made and is making such a positive contribution to the way we solve our problems; that is, by sensible argument and discussion, by consensus and consent, rather than opposition simply for the sake o f opposing. The third element which seems to distinguish Hong Kong from many other places, although it is 13