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72503
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(I)
(II)
WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER CHANGES IN THE
COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BY INTRODUCING A
SYSTEM OF DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR A PROPORTION OF THE SEATS
AND/OR BY ALTERING THE RELATIVE PROPORTION OF APPOINTED
AND ELECTED MEMBERS:
WHETHER THE GOVERNOR SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PRESIDENT OF
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
SUBSIDIARY ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED MAY INCLUDE THE ROLES AND
RELATIONSHIPS OF THE LOWER-LEVEL BODIES: DETAILED ELECTORAL
PROCEDURES: AND A POSSIBLE LOWERING OF THE VOTING AGE FROM 21 TO
18.
12.
WHERE DIRECT ELECTIONS ARE CONCERNED, THE 1984 WHITE
PAPER NOTED LITTLE EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FOR THEIR IMMEDIATE
INTRODUCTION. IT SUGGESTED THAT A CAUTIOUS APPROACH MIGHT
INVOLVE INTRODUCING A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED
MEMBERS IN 1988.
THE STATE OF OPINION IN HONG KONG ON THE 1987 REVIEW
13.
OUR APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG HAS THROUGHOUT BEEN A VERY CAUTIOUS ONE.
WE HAVE SOUGHT TO BUILD ON LOCAL INSTITUTIONS AND TRADITIONS.
THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THEY
HAVE SHOWN A CONSISTENT PREFERENCE FOR GRADUALISM, AND A STRONG
CONCERN THAT SOCIAL STABILITY SHOULD NOT BE ENDANGERED. MANY
CONTINUE TO FEAR THAT TOO RAPID AN EVOLUTION OF REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT COULD LEAD TO INSTABILITY AND THE DIVISIVE EFFECTS OF
PARTY POLITICS.
14.
ACCORDINGLY MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WILL NOT WISH TO SEE
THE 1987 REVIEW LEADING TO DRAMATIC CHANGES. HOWEVER THE
QUESTION OF INTRODUCING A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT INTO THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONTINUES TO ATTRACT GREATEST PUBLIC
INTEREST. VIEWS ARE DIVIDED. THOSE STRONGLY IN SUPPORT' OF
INTRODUCING A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT MAINTAIN THAT THIS IS THE
ONLY WAY OF ENSURING THE EVOLUTION OF A GENUINELY REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT, CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING THE QUOTE HIGH DEGREE OF
AUTONOMY UNQUOTE PROVIDED FOR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. THOSE
AGAINST ARGUE THAT THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY IS NOT READY FOR SUCH
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