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(iii) How can it be shown that non-elected members of
EXCO/LegCo represent Hong Kong?
This cannot be proved, any more than it can be proved that
MPs in all circumstances represent the views of the people
of the UK. The Hong Kong Government has in recent years
endeavoured to make the Councils representative of a wider
cross-section of Hong Kong society eg Sir E Youde's
-
latest proposals, which include the appointment of an
elected Urban Councillor to EXCO and two elected District
Board members to LEGCO.
4.
Will the package be put to a referendum? If not why
not?
This is not envisaged.
The Chinese have made it clear
that they consider the negotiations to be bilateral and
that the views of the 5 million people of Hong Kong
[coun
count for nothing against those of the 1 billion people
of the PRC. A referendum would have unacceptable
internal implications for them.
5.
(If there are divided opinions) Whose opinion counts?
What is a test of acceptability in these circumstances?
The Hong Kong Government goes to great pains to collect
and assess public opinion, and to monitor media
comment. If there was a major split in Exco, we would
have to weigh the conflicting views against what we
knew of other public opinion in Hong Kong. In such a
situation it would ultimately be a question of
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/judgement