Lee didn't push S'pore model

CHRISTOPHER Lingle could not have read Senior Minsiter Lee Kuan Yew's speeches in HK recently.

Mr Lee never pushed the Singapore model on anybody. Mr lee's main point was that before there can be democracy, there must first be a thriving economy to sustain that society.

Hong Kong is now a part of China. A Hong Kong that is constantly at odds with China must fail. To go the way of former Governor Chris Patten is to precipitate conflict with China.

The people of HK have to decide whether they want to prosper under the Basic Law or to re-interpret the Basic Law and be bogged down in constant conflicts with Beijing.

Foreign ministers from 42 countries attended the swearing-in of the provisional legislature. Even some senior members of the British delegation were present. By their attendance, the international community underlined the fact that the provisional legislature was not in breach of the agreement.