4000091 P.R.H. 7
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION SERVICES
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
Friday, July 24, 1970
G
THE PROBLEM OF CONST IT UT IONAL CHANGES
Need To Face Situation Realistically
*******
Mr. David Lai, City District Commissioner for Kowloon, said today
Hong Kong could not afford major constitutional changes likely to upset
its political stability and economic prosperity without which the Colony
would be thrown into confusion.
Speaking to a Leadership Training Camp organised by the College
Student Association of Hong Kong at the Northcote College of Education, he
described Hong Kong's "peculiar position" as one that made it important
to bear in mind changes should only be asked for if they were practical.
"We do not want changes for the sake of changes.
We want changes
only if they can bring good to Hong Kong," he said.
He supposed no one would deny Hong Kong's present constitutional
set-up was "somewhat antiquated," but an elected government was not necessarily
a guarantee for democracy. On the other hand, a government based on Hong
Kong's present constitutional pattern of appointed members both to the Executive
and Legislative councils could be "very sensitive to public opinion, and
possibly more flexible in adopting changes to meet local needs."
For constatational descoput file асорил
/"Imperfect"