...
The
are whether there should be further changes in the composition of
the Legislative Council, and whether the Governor should continue
to be President of the
issue Legislative Council
attracting the greatest attention, particularly in the media, is
whether an element of direct elections to the Legislative Council
should be introduced, and, in particular, whether they should be
introduced in 1988."
government
repeatedly
turned down all
a
But in spite of such statement, the Hong Kong-
for suggestions
referendum on whether the public wanted to have direct elections
in 1988 on the ground that there were a plethora of issues to be
discussed. And instead of highlighting the two "main issues" as
the Green Paper buried promised,
them under
of a mountain
"options" about local administration and technical details such
as measures to discourage frivolous candidates.
And, although the government acknowledged that direct
elections in 1988 was the focus of public attion, the 42-page
Paper not once posed the simple question: "Are you
favour of direct elections in 1988 or not?"
Green
in
Instead,
the following
convoluted
and mind-boggling
section appears in the Green Paper as options regarding the
compostion of the Legislative Council:
"(i)
to make no change in the numbers and relative
proportions
of
Elected Members;
official,
Appointed
and
"(ii)
to conclude that direct elections to the
Legislative Council are not desirable;
17