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Chapter 3 The Development of the Present System
18.
present
The most distinctive feature of the
system of government in Hong Kong is that it operates on
the basis of consultation and consensus rather than of
government and opposition. It is not a government of
parties, factions and adversarial politics but one of
broad agreements; and it is a government which seeks to
take a pragmatic approach to the problems of the day.
This does not mean that no argument or discussion takes
place, but rather that such argument does not develop on
party lines, and is not settled by voting which simply
reflects party strength. This system has enabled Hong
Kong to enjoy sustained periods of economic growth and
internal stability. The very real advantages of this
system must not be forgotten, or lightly thrown aside,
in developing plans for the introduction of more
representative institutions in Hong Kong.
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19.
This system of consultation
and consensus has
grown up around two separate approaches to the question
of how the people of Hong Kong should be represented.
Two different types of shared interests among the people
have been recognised first, those arising from their
work; second, those arising from their place of
These groupings can be described as
residence.
"constituencies"
functional constituencies
geographical constituencies.
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