directly-elected
democracy
in Hong Kong.
That is our duty and we should not fudge it."
Ken Eastham:
"I still believe in the democratic system and
in elected bodies. In 1997, we should leave
the people of Hong Kong with a system of
which they approve and can be proud."
George Robertson:
"The progress towards the more elected and
representative government that is proposed in
the White Paper is perhaps unduly cautious.
The government of Hong Kong must be ready in
the 1987 review to consider holding direct
elections and having a greater proportion of
directly elected legislators and extra
members than they seem willing to contemplate
at the moment. The danger now is not of
Chinese over-reaction to democratic reform
but of insufficient time before 1997 in which
to create a strong, viable, locally based
system which will withstand the inevitable
pressure and tremors as 1997 advances."
to
Mr. Richard Luce, then Minister with special
responsibility for Hong Kong, in his reply to Commons took pains
stress that the British Government and Parliament were in
agreement on this crucial issue. He said: "The constitutional
development of Hong Kong has caused great interest and a large
number of hon. members have expressed legitimate concerns.
all fully accept that we should build up a firmly-based
democratic administration in Hong Kong in the years between now
We
and 1997."
.
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