IN LINE WITH THE COMMITMENT IN THE 1984 WHITE PAPER, THE
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL UNDERTAKE A FURTHER REVIEW OF THE
PROGRESS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN 1987.
A GREEN PAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED NOT LATER THAN MAY 1987, FOLLOWING
WHICH THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION OF SOME FOUR
TO FIVE MONTHS. A WHITE PAPER SETTING OUT THE GOVERNMENT'S
INTENTIONS, IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC OPINION EXPRESSED, WILL BE
PUBLISHED TOWARDS THE END OF 1987. THE MAIN ISSUES ON WHICH
THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE SOUGHT INCLUDE WHETHER THERE
SHOULD BE FURTHER CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
AND WHETHER THE
GOVERNOR SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND
THE DISTRICT BOARDS WILL ALSO BE REVIEWED.
THE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION VOICED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
ON THE DIRECTION WHICH FURTHER POLITICAL REFORMS SHOULD TAKE IS A
MEASURE OF THE CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC INTEREST WHICH THE FORTHCOMING
REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY GENERATED. THE
ISSUE ATTRACTING THE GREATEST ATTENTION, PARTICULARLY IN THE MEDIA,
IS WHETHER DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
INTRODUCED, AND, IN PARTICULAR, WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE INTRODUCED
IN 1988. OPINION ON THE ISSUE IS DIVIDED.
CONFIDENTIAL
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO. 271)