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The reaction in Hong Kong was generally a very positive one. The White Paper was widely seen as a balanced and well-judged response to the views which had been expressed by the community during an extensive exercise of public consultation. overwhelmingly endorsed by the Legislative Council. A proposed amendment regretting that direct elections were to be introduced in 1991 rather than this year was rejected by 42 votes to 7. And it is particularly noteworthy that in that vote each element making up the Legislative Council, including those members themselves directly elected to lower levels of government, was opposed to the amendment.
[10. It would be wrong to attach undue importance to the results of a single opinion poll. That was a tactic employed by critics of the White Paper in seeking to cast doubt on a comprehensive consultation exercise. But it may be worth noting in passing that the first poll taken in Hong Kong after the White Paper was published showed 66% of respondents content with its conclusion on the key question of direct elections.]
11.
We have come a considerable distance over the past four years in responding to the aspirations of Hong Kong people for greater participation in their government:
the Legislative Council formed in 1982 contained no elected members. All non-official members were appointed by the Governor;
the Joint Declaration, concluded in 1984, provided that after 1997 the legislature should be constituted by elections;
the Legislative Council formed in 1985 introduced two categories of indirectly elected members, together making up just over 40% of
the total membership;
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this component will be slightly strengthened in the coming autumn's elections; and in 1991 ten directly elected seats will be
introduced;
it is already clear, from the various options contained in the draft Basic Law, that after 1997 at least 25% of the legislature of
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