ས ས
system
firmly
3. The aim of the proposals was to develop progressively a
of
government, the authority for which would be
rooted in Hong Kong, which would represent authoritatively the views of the people of the territory
and which would be more directly accountable to the people
of Hong Kong. In preparing the White Paper, the Hong Kong
Government recognised the need to keep in mind the
provisions of the agreement on the future of the territory.
Publication of the White Paper was preceded by a two month
period of public consultation during which the Government
received a wide range of, mainly favourable, comment
aims of the Paper. The need to preserve the prosperity and
stability of the territory by ensuring that constitutional
change whilst progressive was also gradual, was widely
recognised and the proposals were
the proposals were considered by many people
to be a realistic and practical framework for the
development
representative government at the central
level.
of
on
the
4.
The
White Paper was approved by the Legislative
Council (LEGCO) in January of this year.
5.
The elections to LEGCO, held on 26 September, went off
well if predictably. Media attention was considerable and
public interest encouraging.
The majority of the
candidates returned were members of the professional
classes, all well-known
community service. Turnout varied from almost 100% in the
electoral college to a lowest turnout of 45% in one of the
functional constituencies for the industrial sector.
The Hong Kong Government's polling arrangements appear
have been executed smoothly and without hitch.
figures and experienced in
two
6.
to
The 198, review will consider possible further
developments in the composition and method of selection of
members of LEGCO and Executive Council (EXCO) in 1988 and
beyond, the question of direct elections and the position
of the Governor in relation to EXCO and LEGCO.