Sir,
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Sir Insta
116
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Stevens ditt 14/3
DRAFT SPEECH BY DR THE
HON. Helmut Sohmen LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 16 MARCH 1988
HRB
White Paper: "The Development of Representative Government : The Way Forward"
When the next generation looks back on this and our previous debates on constitutional reform, the kindest comment they might make is that we all tried hard to do the best for
Hong Kong. I doubt that we shall be complimented for having been bold, or imaginative, or particularly wise.
The White
Paper in my view is not really a way forward, only a step sideways into what, I fear, could be a blind alley.
of
Of course, as a gradualist who has consistently argued for a cautious approach to progress on these very complex and fundamental issues, I am pleased that any major. changes to the political structure have been deferred at least until 1991. The desperate urgency suggested by some Honourable, Members and others in the community for changes within this
So was and is their claim that a year has always been a myth. significant majority of the Hong Kong population is in favour of the introduction of direct elections to the legislature in 1988. No amount of bickering about the details of the Survey Office efforts and results, no local and international media campaigns, no speculation on the hypothetical outcome of a referendum can hide this basic fact.
If proof was needed that the public at large in Hong Kong is not yet fully aware or convinced of the benefits of democratic participation in the political processes, the recent To blame the District Board elections should have provided it. disappointingly low voter turnout on the publication of the White Paper is an ingenious but rather bizarre argument, even
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