4
9.
The Hong Kong Government is now considering how
public opinion can best be assessed after the Green Paper is
published. Hong Kong has a comprehensive system for monitoring opinion expressed by individuals or the media
but
it is also necessary to give due weight to the opinions of the
less vocal sections of the population. It will be critical
that the Hong Kong Government's assessment of opinion should
be seen as an objective one.
The main issues to be considered
10.
The 1987 Review will have to consider issues "left
over" from the 1984 White Paper (para 7 above) as well as any new issues that may have arisen.
11. At present we envisage that the principal issues on which the views of the public are to be sought will be :
(i)
whether there should be further changes in the
composition of the Legislative Council, by introducing a system of direct elections for a
proportion of appointed and elected members;
(ii) 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.