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the territory, the continuing commitment of the Government and of Parliament to Hong Kong is greatly valued.
6. I should like at this point to recall briefly the main theme of our Debate on Hong Kong earlier this year, and to draw the attention of the House to subsequent developments. Members will recall that on 10 February the Hong Kong Government published a White Paper on the development of representative government in the territory. That document was not without its critics in this House at the time. But it has been generally well received in Hong Kong. It is clear that most people there regard it as a forward-looking and judicious document. In their view it has succeeded in plotting a course and setting a pace which command the support and confidence of the widest possible spectrum of opinion in the territory.
7.
It is worth noting that the White Paper was overwhelmingly endorsed by Hong Kong's Legislative Council. An amendment regretting the decision to introduce direct elections not earlier than 1991 was soundly rejected by 42 votes to 7.
8.
The White Paper was the culmination of a lengthy and scrupulously careful review of public opinion in the territory. The process of public consultation over the Basic Law being conducted by the Chinese authorities is no less thorough and painstaking. It began at the end of April with the publication of a first draft Basic Law. And it will continue for 5 months until the end of September.
9. The way in which this exercise is handled will have a major effect on confidence in Hong Kong and on how Hong Kong people view their future. I have no doubt that the Chinese Government fully understand the heavy burden of responsibility that rests on their shoulders. It is their intention to repeat the consultation process in 1989, on the basis of a revised draft, before the Basic Law is promulgated by the National People's Congress in 1990.
10. Before I turn to the substance of the draft Basic Law I should make a few general observations about the way in which the text has emerged.
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