TABAEA
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5.
The Review was biased against direct elections in 1988. The Survey Office public opinion survey was inaccurate
The British Government have complete confidence in the conduct of the Review by the Hong Kong Government and the independent Survey Office. Independent monitors confirmed that the Survey Office fulfilled its task properly and impartially. The review was a genuine one.
The decisions in the White Paper have taken into account responses from all sections of the community. We believe they represent a fair reflection of public opinion.
6.
Direct elections in 1991 will provide insufficient time for democracy to take root
In our view the best guarantee of a well rooted democratic tradition in Hong Kong is that changes should be steady and gradual. We need an evolutionary, not a revolutionary process of change. The tradition of representative government is well established in Hong Kong. A large part of membership of Municipal Councils and District Boards is directly elected. In 1985, indirect elections introduced for 24 members of Legco. The representative base of LegCo and lower-level organs of government in Hong Kong is already large.
thus
7. Ten directly elected seats in 1991 is too few
The ten directly elected seats to be introduced in 1991 will constitute 18% of Legco. In addition a further 16 seats (28%) are indirectly elected.
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