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047210
MDHIAN 6809
BUT
FOR INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO BEFORE 1997, SHARP DIVISION OF VIEWS ON WHETHER THIS SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN 1988. IN LIGHT OF CLEAR DIVISION OF VIEWS ON TIMING, GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988. BEFORE MAKING SUCH A MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, GOVERNMENT MUST BE SURE THAT IT HAS CLEAR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
2.
MAJOR DICISION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO PUSH FORWARD PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. CLEAR TIMING LAID DOWN FOR INTRODUCTION OF TEN DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1991, REPRESENTING 17 PERCENT OF TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF COUNCIL. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE ONLY SIX YEARS AFTER ELECTED MEMBERSHIP WAS INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN 1985. THIS IS IMPRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT BY ANY STANDARDS.
(B) DEFENSIVE
3. (SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN) DISCREPANCIES IN RESULTS OF DIFFERENT PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS ? (SQUARE BRACKETS END) IN ASSESSING PUBLIC OPINION GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS TAKEN ACCOUNT OF ALL VIEWS RECORDED IN SURVEY OFFICE REPORT AND OF ALL SUBSEQUENT COMMENTS ON REPORT ITSELF, INCLUDING THOSE CONTAINED IN THE MONITORS' REPORT. WHICHEVER WAY ONE LOOKS AT THE PUBLIC RESPONSE, CLEAR THERE WAS STRONG SUPPORT FOR PRINCIPLE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS BUT DIVISION OF VIEWS ON TIMING OF INTRODUCTION.
4. (SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN) WHY ABOLISH ELECTORAL COLLEGE WHEN PUBLIC OPINION FAVOURS DIRECT ELECTIONS IN ADDITION TO ELECTORAL COLLEGE ? (SQUARE BRACKETS END)
HAS
PUBLIC RESPONSE ON THIS ISSUE VERY LIMITED. GOVERNMENT HAS CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS. CONCLUDED THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE TWO PARALLEL SYSTEMS OF GEOGRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION ON LEGCO. CHANGE FROM SYSTEM OF INDIRECT TO DIRECT ELECTIONS FROM GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES REPRESENTS NATURAL STEOP IN PROCESS OF MOVING TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.
5.
(SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN) WHY TEN CONSTITUENCIES INSTEAD OF SINGLE TERRITORY-WIDE CONSTITUENCY ? (SQUARE BRACKETS END) DECISION TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS ON BASIS OF 10 SINGLE-MEMBER, GEOGRAPHICALLY-BASED CONSTITUENCIES A NATURAL DEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING SYSTEM. A SINGLE TERRITORY-WIDE CONSTITUENCY WOULD LEAD TO DIFFERENT TYPE OF ELECTIONS. SIZE OF ELECTORATE ALONE WOULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES TO CANVASS
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