GPS 6000
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 08120OZ
FX HONG KONG 080950Z NOV 24
TO IMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3420 OF 03 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
B
KKK 0111B OF
SMIEIVED D
12 NOV 1984
B49,
MIPT. WHITE PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNVENTE.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF WHITE PAPER.
BEGINS:
по
DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
CHAPTER 1
THE INTRODUCTION
Note Amenducts made by Exco- See Ак тело 3467
THE GREEN PAPER
ON 18 JULY 1984, THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED A GREEN PAPER
ENTITLED THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
IN HONG KONG AND INVITED PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS
PUT FORWARD IN IT.
2. THE AIMS OF THE PROPOSALS WERE :
(A) TO DEVELOP PROGRESSIVELY A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THE AUTHORITY
FOR WHICH IS FIRMLY ROOTED IN HONG KONG, WHICH IS ABLE TO REPRESENT AUTHORITATIVELY THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AND WHICH
IS MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG:
(3) TO BUILD THIS SYSTEM ON OUR EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, WHICH
HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL, AND, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, TO PRESERVE
THEIR BEST FEATURES, INCLUDING THE MAINTENANCE OF THE WELL
ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSENSUS: AND
(C) TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IF THAT SHOULD BE THE
WISH OF THE COMMUNITY.
PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER
3. THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVED AND RECORDED COMMENTS FROM A VIZE
RANGE OF SOURCES DURING THE TWO-MONTH PERIOD ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC
CONSULTATION ON THE GREEN PAPER PROPOSALS. IN ADDITION TO OVER
360 WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT FROM VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS, EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WAS CARRIED ON THROUGH THE DISTRICT OFFICES.
MANY MEETINGS AND PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS MERE ATTELL TY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, SEVERAL SURVEYS OF PUBLIC OPINION WERE CARRIED OUT BY BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE 30DIES, AND AM
ASSESSMENT WAS MADE OF VIEWS EXPRESSED EXTENSIVELY IN THE
MEDIA. COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED FROM MANY MEMBERS OF DISTRICT
BOARDS, AREA COMMITTEES AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES. URBAN
COUNCILLORS EXPRESSED THEIR VIEWS IN AN OPEV DEBATE ON 4 AND
6 SEPTEMBER 1984, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED UP BY A RESOLUTION FROM THE
STANDING COMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL ON 27 SEPTEMBER 1984,
CONFIDENTIAL
/AND