5.
*
Constitutional Development (for use freely)
6. In November 1984 the Hong Kong Government published a
White Paper containing proposals for the further
development of representative Government in the territory.
The aims of the proposals were to develop progressively a
system of government the authority for which i s firmly
rooted in Hong Kong, which represents authoritatively the
views of the people of the territory and is more directly
accountable to the people of Hong Kong. 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 on the 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.
7.
The first (indirect) elections to the Legislative
Council (LEGCO) took place on 26 September. 24 members
out of a new Council of 56, were chosen, 12 of them by an
electoral college of mainly elected local government board members and 12 by functional constituencies representing
the main professional, commercial and other groups. The
remaining 32 members will continue to be appointed by the Governor. The elections were keenly contested, and there
was considerable and encouraging interest among the Hong
Kong public and media in them.
A review of progress towards representative Government
will be carried out in 1987.
8.
7
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