No matter what their political ideology, there¡¦ s one thing that unites every resident in Hong Kong. We all want the city to prosper so we can get on with our daily lives without worries about unemployment, debt, negative equity or the erosion of our freedom and liberty.

We have been through rough times recently- we are not alone in that- but there are hopeful signs that in future the government will listen to public opinion about problems unique to Hong Kong and wherever possible draw up its policies accordingly. On July 1, ? a million people had spoken, and the message had got through.

Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa has pledged that his government will consult our people and politicians of all parties, and other organizations so that we can reduce discord. Mr. Tung recognizes that until mutual trust is restored between the administration and the people, there is little hope of finding our way out of the current economic turmoil. He should also have more contact with democratic politicians, and recognize that, though they may have different ways of looking at problems, they are just as committed to the interests of Hong Kong as he himself.

Now that Article 23 will be redrafted and returned to Legco for detailed consultation and scrutiny, we should be able to table a law which can set peoples minds at ease, and reassure them that their treasured freedoms are not under attack. Mr. Tung has indicated that passing the bill could take as long as it needs to make it acceptable to the population. However, Article 23 was not the only anxiety that drove half a million peaceful protesters onto the streets. People are also weighed down with other financial worries. Their savings have been depleted, their assets have shrunk dramatically and many no longer feel secure in their jobs. They want to see effective government action to get Hong Kong back on its feet.

Although the economy is recovering from the effects of SARS, the root of our economic woes remains the property sector, an area in which I have repeatedly called for more measures to halt the slide. Mr. Michael Suen¡¦ s nine-measure package helped to alleviate the problem, but did not go far enough. All land sales must be suspended until the market has recovered, and the MTR and KCRC must be barred from the housing market for the same period. Developers should be allowed more flexibility in releasing flats for sale, so they can respond to market conditions. We should also expand the immigration and investor scheme, currently set at HK$6.5 million for foreigners only, to include Mainland residents.

In his Beijing meeting with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiaboa, Mr. Tung stressed the need to speed up and extend various arrangements under CEPA, which would certainly help the modest recovery now underway. Since joining the WTO, China is expanding at a dramatic pace, and while the mainland flourishes, Hong Kong should share in the benefits. With Beijing¡¦ s continued support, and closer co-operation with Guangdong, we should be able to reduce our deficit budgets and restore our financial reserves into the black.

I realize that it won¡¦ t happen overnight. But so long as our citizens see a continued improvement in the economic outlook- no matter how small- I believe they will be prepared to tighten their belts a little further if necessary, and they will continue to do all they can to rebuild the future.

But Mr. Tung¡¦ s most immediate task is to replace the officials who had resigned. He must choose people of known ability and integrity who have the confidence of the people, and who in turn respect the legislators and citizens they serve. They must also have excellent public relations skills, and patience and understanding in dealing with the natural anxieties of politicians and media. Above all, they should be in touch with public opinion, and not afraid to give frank advice, even when at odds with government¡¦ s preferred policy. The best advice is not always the advice that leaders wish to hear.

That is how I saw my duty when I was appointed to the Executive Council, but regrettably I could not continue when my own views, and those of the Liberal Party were at odds with official policy over the most important law we have to enact after 1997, i.e. the National Security Bill of Article 23. However, if Mr. Tung is willing to fill these posts with individuals of high standing, he will have won the first battle to regain public support. The Financial Secretary¡¦ s job can be filled from the private sector, because experienced professionals understand the complexity of the real market perhaps better than civil servants. But the job of Secretary for Security would be better filled from within the civil service, since it involves handling extremely delicate security material that needed absolute confidentiality.

Thereafter, with a change of government attitude, and wider consultation with the people, Hong Kong should be on course to become a vibrant, self-assured society once more.

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