THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION RECENTLY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF USING A REFERENDUM TO ASSESS THE ACCEPTABILITY OF AN AGREEMENT TO THE
IN THE VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT THIS WOULD PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. HAVE VERY REAL DRAWBACKS.
IN THE SPECIAL POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES
OF HONG KONG, IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID THE RISK OF PROVOKING FACTIONAL DIVISONS OR DISTURBANCES WHICH COULD THEMSELVES WELL LEAVE THE RESULT OF A REFERENDUM OPEN TO REAL DOUBT. MOREOVER, THERE ARE PRACTICAL OBJECTIONS RELATED
TO THE LOW RATES OF REGISTRATION IN HONG KONG SINCE THE
THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCTION OF UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE IN 1982. FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT A PROCESS OF CONSULTATION THROUGH THE WELL- DEVELOPED CHANNELS FAMILIAR TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE THE FULL ASSESSMENT OF THE RANGE AND QUALIFY OF OPINION ON THIS COMPLEX ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE PARLIAMENT WOULD EXPECT AS A BASIS FOR ITS OWN DELIBERATIONS.
A: S(GD)(6)
D: HE, CS, CBF, FS, AG(2),PA(3),PS/GH, SHA, SD, DIS(PERSONAL COVERS)
amm
RL
D