WB فروید
FE/0073 A3/1
A. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
3. FAR EASTERN RELATIONS
PW,
12 Feb 88
PEKING REPORTS HONGKONG WHITE PAPER ON GOVERNMENT REFORM
Xinhua in English 1659 gmt 10 Feb 88
Text of report
The Hongkong government stresses in a White Paper today [10th February] that the pace of the reform of government system should not be forced to an extent that might introduce instability and uncertainty into the administration of Hongkong.
Compiled on the basis of the extensive discussions among Hongkong residents in the latter half of last year, the White Paper entitled "The Development of Representative Government: The Way Forward" sets out the government's decisions on the steps in the development of representative government, including introducing a number of directly elected members into the Legislative Council in 1991. While drafting the White Paper, it says, the government has taken full account of all the views expressed by the public, and has also kept in the provisions mind the special circumstances of Hongkong of the Sino-British joint declaration on the question of Hongkong and the progress made by the Chinese government in drafting the basic law for the future Hongkong special administrative region.
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Over the most controversial problem of direct elections to the Legislative Council, the White Paper says, "there is wide support among the people of Hongkong for the principle of introducing some directly elected members into the Legislative Council, but that the community is divided over the timing of this move."
"On the question of timing, the government has concluded that it would not be right to make such a major constitutional change in 1988, given that opinions in the community on this issue are so clearly divided,” it declares. "The maintenance of stability requires that the development of Hongkong's system should continue to be of representative government evolutionary rather than revolutionary," it explains.
The White Paper also notes that the Hongkong governor will continue to be president of the Legislative Council. It also covers the present system of representative government, composition of the Legislative Council and some practical aspects of elections.
OTIIER REPORT ON HONGKONG
(Excerpts)
The
Hongkong paper: White Paper is "conducive" to Hongkong's
Hongkong stability government today [10th February] released the "White Paper: the Development of Representative Government", which has been the focus of people's attention... After an initial reading, we find that this is a fair report compatible with the spirit of
the joint declaration of the governments of China and Britain on the Hongkong issue, and conducive to the maintenance of Hongkong's stability and prosperity... In terms of its overall spirit, the "White Paper" advances in many chapters of the doctrine of there being two aspects to a thing. This means that as far as improvement to the political system is concerned, the substantial progress in recent years, or improvement to be sought in the future, must take into account the two aspects. On the one hand, we must strive to maintain political stability and economic prosperity, and exercise effective control. On the other hand, we must have evolution, with the development of Hongkong's society. This fits in with the ever-increasing demands and rising aspirations of society, with its support ensured. With these two aspects unified in concrete action, the various steps to be taken, as announced in the "White Paper”, will develop gradually and progressively. The pace will not be forcibly accelerated so as to cause the emergence of a situation of instability and uncertainty...
The answers to questions about direct elections to the Legislative Council, announced in section 28 of the "White Paper”, similarly give expression to the doctrine of there being two aspects to a thing. Because of the existence of obvious social differences on this problem, "direct elections in 1988” will not be held. But in 1991, a number of Legislative Council members will be elected through direct elections. It seems this decision will have a good effect on the matter of maintaining convergence with the basic law... With the release of the "White Paper", the direction has generally been clarified. Various quarters will, in future, more actively pool their wisdom in the economic field. This will make for further prosperity in Hongkong. (Hongkong, 'Hsin Wan Pao' 10 Feb 88)
THAI ARMY RADIO SAYS “THIRD COUNTRY” DIRECTING LAOS INTO BORDER WAR
First Army Division Radio, Bangkok, in Thai 2300 gmt 7 Feb 88 Abstract of commentary with quotations
Thailand and Laos have a long history of close relations. Both peoples are closely related and, although border disputes have arisen in the past, they were not serious. However, at the end of 1987 Laos sent its soldiers up to 8 km into Thai territory in the Ban Romklao area and seized strategic locations.
There are probably several reasons for the sudden Lao change of attitude towards Thailand, although it depends on Thailand for many things:
(1) "Laos is being directed by a third country which wants to switch the hot spot from Cambodia to the upper part of the Thai-Lao border in order to pressure Laos into asking it to maintain its forces in Laos so that the third country can justify its military presence in Laos to the UN.