7 -
Wednesday, February 9, 1972
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Says The Hon Ellen Li
***
The White Paper on the Urban Council is at least one step
forward in the right direction although it is but one tiny step.
The Hon. Ellen Li stated this in the Legislative Council today
when she supported the motion to adopt the White Paper.
She said that in its present form the White Paper could not
be described or considered as anything "soul shattering" because the only
major changes recommended were the complete withdrawal of official
members from the Council and a limited extension of financial autonomy.
However, in spite of its limited scope, the White Paper had been
accepted in general as a practical proposition under Hong Kong's present
economic and political atmosphere, she said.
"Caution is the key note of our stability and we have not done
'Dramatic', 'Drastic' and
too badly so far by being a little cautious.
'Revolutionary' are not words we can find in our Hong Kong dictionary."
Mrs. Li pointed out that since only about 10 per cent of the
qualified voters actually registered and only a few thousands turned out
at the polls, it was felt that the present franchise was adequate for the
purpose at the present moment.
She was more concerned about the principles behind it, that is,
the categories of persons qualified for voting and the educational standard
necessary for qualification.
/She said