SECRET
9. IT IS FROM THESE GEOGRAPHICAL AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUTENCIES THAT THE APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN DRAWN. IT IS NOW PROPOSED TO BUILD ON THEM IN DEVELOPING A SYSTEM FOR THE ELECTION OF A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCILS. BUT IT IS ALSO PROPOSED TO RETAIN, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, SOME APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS: FOR WE NEED CONTINUITY AND EXPERIENCE ON THE COUNCILS.
DIRECT ELECTIONS
10. SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BASED ON A UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE, SHOULD BE INTRODUCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SUCH ARRANGEMENTS ARE A STANDARD FEATURE OF MANY DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ALWAYS SUCCEEDED IN GUARANTEE ING STABLE REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT.
11. IN HONG KONG IT IS CLEARLY ESSENTIAL THAT STABILITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. MOREOVER, OUR SPECIAL POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT: AND OUR SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION MUST GIVE FULL WEIGHT TO THOSE INTERESTS ON WHICH OUR PRESENT POSITION AS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE IS BASED, AND WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY. ALL THIS ARGUES STRONGLY THAT CHANGE SHOULD BE PROGRESSIVE, THAT IT SHOULD BE TAILORED TO HONG KONG'S DISTINCTIVE SOCIETY AND CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THAT IT SHOULD BE BASED ON THE WELL-TRIED SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL.
12. IF WE WERE TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NOW, WE SHOULD RUN THE RISK OF A SWIFT INTRODUCTION OF ADVERSARIAL POLITICS, AND AN ELEMENT OF INSTABILITY AT A CRUCIAL TIME. THE TIME FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS MAY COME. IN DUE COURSE, AS THE POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG EVOLVE, AND IF POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA DEVELOPS, FURTHER THOUGHT WILL BE GIVEN TO THIS POSSIBILITY. BUT PRUDENCE AND THE OVERRIDING NEED FOR STABILITY AT A CRUCIAL TIME IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY DICTATE THE
GRADUAL APPROACH WHICH IS PROPOSED.
THE PROPOSALS
13. I DO NOT INTEND TO DESCRIBE THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER IN GREAT DETAIL. THE PAPER, SHOULD BE STUDIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY ALL THOSE CONCERNED FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY. BUT I SHALL SUMMARISE THE MAIN FEATURES OF THEM.
14. THEY DEAL PRINCIPALLY WITH THE TWO MAIN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
SECRET -3-
[THE