香港落後了

　　香港落後了。

　　未來不可完全預知，但打算不打算急起直追，決定卻完全在你的手裏。

　　如果你像我們一樣，決定不畏艱難，重頭收拾河山的話，我們歡迎你。

　　急起直追，首先就要冷靜了解落後之處和因由，然後尋求重新定位，找出解決方法，再動員起來，令這些方法實現及達到目標。批評、分析不是為了攻擊別人或炫耀自己，而是確確實實進步的唯一道路。

　　這就要有識見、有承擔、有良心的人能發出聲音，現實的真相和有用的資訊能傳送出去，讓在工作崗位上或私人生活圈子裏有機會發揮力量的人，推動改革和創新。

　　這是《基本法》四十五條關注組創辦這份報刊的原因。今日傳媒只有空間報道政治「甜品」，電台電視言路收縮。我們無法代替傳媒，只求努力填補空缺，帶出振作的訊息。

　　民主、法治、人權、自由是所有開明社會的基礎。建造民主法治的社會是國家主席胡錦濤向全世界公布的國策。民主普選是香港特別行政區《基本法》的規定，是香港絕大多數人的訴求。我們實在沒有必要跟甚麼人抗辯。「和諧社會」是熱門的政治口號；但最高人民法院院長蕭揚告訴我們：和諧不是沒有原則的，只有公平正義的社會才能達致和諧；只有建立法治觀念才能締造和諧社會。

　　我們應為香港為中國的美好將來貢獻自己。

　　香港回歸八年，特區政府浪費了不少光陰，既沒有把握「兩制」，鞏固香港原有制度，加強高度自治的水平；也沒有把握「一國」，加深了解中國現況，建立與中央溝通的渠道。現在是醒覺的時候了！

　　陳方安生在封面訪問中，幾乎毫無保留地道出「問責制」造成的破壞、公務員培訓斷層的危機，如果不彌補這些缺陷，回復「公務員治港」也是徒然。

　　畢爾包的成功，可作西九龍文娛發展區的借鑑；廣東省在發達中的自我反省及危機感，值得我們深思。

　　廣東省省委書記張德江邀請香港人考慮香港可以在全國經濟發展中扮演的角色。我們的天然角色，是走進中國，然後協助中國與國際接軌。

　　要這樣做，我們得恢復國際視野，熟悉海峽兩岸。在政治、生活、文化上，我們的世界會因此而更加遼闊和豐富。

－吳靄儀

HONG KONG HAS FALLEN BEHIND
-Margaret Ng

　　Hong Kong has fallen behind. The future is not entirely ours to predict, but we can each decide whether or not to make the effort to pull ourselves together and catch up. The decision is in our hands.

　　If, you are prepared to give a go, then let us work together.　

　　To catch up, we have first to take stock of where and how we have fallen behind. We should then re-position ourselves, chart the course forward, and mobilize people to work towards that goal. Critical thinking is the way to progress, and this we undertake to do. We do not criticize others to denigrate them, or just to blow our trumpets.

　　This is why Article 45 Concern Group has decided to publish this newspaper. Nowadays, the media appear to have room only for more political gossip, and little scope is allowed for controversial commentary. We cannot hope to replace the media. We can only try to fill in some of the gaps, thereby encouraging others to rally.

　　Democracy, the rule of law, human rights and freedom are the basis of the modern society. To build up democracy and the rule of law is the national policy of China announced to the world by President Hu Jintao. Universal suffrage for Hong Kong is already part of the Basic law, and the desire of the overwhelming majority of the people. They need no further justification. The latest political slogan is “social harmony”. But the President of the Supreme People’s Court Xiao yang has already told us: harmony is not unprincipled; only a fair and just society can find harmony, and only by fostering the spirit of the rule of law can we build up a harmonious society.

　　We should give our best for the future of Hong Kong and the future of China.

　　Much time has already been wasted by the SAR Government in the eight years following Reunification. It did not take advantage of “two system” to strengthen existing Hong Kong institutions and ensure a high standard for our high degree of autonomy. Neither did it use “one country” as the opportunity to deepen our understanding of China’s situation, and build up a channel of communication with the Central Authorities. Now is the time to wake up to what we have missed.

　　Former Chief Secretary Mrs. Anson Chan, in her interview with us, has spoken with unprecedented frankness on the harm the “ministerial system” has done, and the crisis in the civil service created by neglecting standard training. Unless these problems are dealt with, putting governance back into the hands of civil servants will achieve little.

　　The success in Bilbao can provide useful lessons for our West Kowloon Cultural Development project. The sense of urgency in Guangdong’s awareness to chart a new path for its future set an example for Hong Kong to do the same.

　　Guangdong party chief Zhang Dejiang invited Hong Kong people to consider what role it can play in China’s national economic development. Our natural role is to go into China, and to provide the bridge between China and the international community.

　　To do the job, we have first to recover our own international perspective, further our knowledge of the mainland and Taiwan. On the way there, our own lives will become richer and our world broader, in politics, culture and our style of living.