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STATEMENT FOR RELEASE ON ELECTIONS TO HONG KONG EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS
Passed by News Department to Evening News on behalf of Mr Royle
The problem about moving towards an elected legislature is
that in the special circumstances of Hong Kong self-government
or independence has to be ruled out. This is obvious for
geographical and historical reasons. The Chinese Government
have made it clear on many occasions that they are satisfied
with the present status of Hong Kong. The Unofficial Members
of ExCo and LegCo keep in touch with public opinion through
their own organisation UMELCO, which maintains a very successful
office for consultations and complaints from the public. In
addition the Government is advised by a wide network of
committees, in which a large number of the public are involved.
The Urban Council, a partly elected and partly nominated body,
looks after specialist functions in the urban area.