(44)
Mm Hanks. Out
heard
now
(4pm) Hals Questio
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HKK 011/3
JAK
12/12132501234
withdrawn. I apologies. Men still be useful some time. Wicketts
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG:
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION TABLED BY DENNIS CANAVAN FOR ORAL ANSWER BY
THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 12 DECEMBER.
1.
Remarks made by Mr Canavan during the debate on Hong Kong in
the House of Commons on 5 December.
凯
(A) The White Paper is "too little, too late". Less than 50% of
the Legislative Council in 1985 will be elected by any method.
Proposals are "far too puss y-footed". Would not be unreasonable to suggest that by 1990 LEGCO should be directly elected and EXCO
elected indirectly from the members of LEGCO.
(B) The functional constituencies are necessarily divisive
might reinforce existing or potential divisions in society.
(C) White Paper contains no proposals for elections
Executive Council in 1985.
--
they
(D) Some people seem to be afraid that if there were direct
elections someone too radical or left-wing might be elected to the Legislative Council. Hypocritical to say that democracy is all right as long as we can predict who will win the election.
Remarks made by other MPs during the debate on 5 December
Edward Heath MP
2.
(A)
Tone of White Paper suggests representative government being introduced very grudgingly. Must not drag our feet.
(B) Far greater than any danger of haste in introducing electoral reforms, is the danger of not having a representative government with experience in place before 1997.
3. Peter Temple-Morris MP
(A) Important, whatever the system, to get Hong Kong Chinese into
leadership positions before 1997.
(B) Proposals for indirect elections just about right. Must
proceed slowly and recognise that democracy is not a Chinese or
Hong Kong institution. Must not divide a consensus community
Eric Deakins MP
4.
(A) By 1997 a fully representative government must be in place. not, will be handing over one authoritarian system of government to another. This would make it
easier for incoming
government to do whatever it wished.
(B)
5.
(A)
Must make haste slowly in next 12 years.
Andrew Faulds MP
Surprised that radical groups and young intellectuals not
I f