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The Heung Yee Kuk has been in
existence for more than six decades and its contribution to the Hong Kong society is there for all to see.
The Chief Secretary said very specifically in his speech yesterday, that the Heung Yee Kuk acts as a bridge between the indigenous population of the New Territories and the Government. The contribution it has made and continues to make towards the development of the 9 New Territories is very significant. However, in
relation to the Heung Yee Kuk's request to be included in the functional constituencies, he said: 'Because functional constituencies are designed to represent professional and occupational groups with a territory- 14 wide significance, it was considered inappropriate
to fit the Kuk into this category.
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white.
However, I cannot agree with such an explanation because according to the 1984 Green Paper, the functional constituency means the election
Functional constituencies should be developed into a formal representative system for theelection of one or more representatives from each functional
constituency to serve on the Legislative Council.', 'to identify functional constituencies with the object of ensuring that those major sectors of the community having common social, economic and occupational interests are represented. ←
occupational interests are represented.
At the same
time, in paragraph 89 of the 1987 Green Paper, there were four guidelines listed, and functional constituencies
عيد
22 A
were not limited to professions or occupations. However, in this White Paper, the Government insists that functional constituencies should be narrowly confined to professional
and occupational groups; and groups performing social
functions have been excluded.
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I feel that this is not in line with the principle and spirit of the setting up of functional constituencies. The Heung Yee Kuk is the
only statutory advisory body in the New Territories.