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DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)
before 1997, but was sharply divided on the timing of
this change.
Some people favoured the introduction of
directly elected members in 1988, arguing that direct
elections would promote the development of more open,
accountable and representative government, and should
therefore be introduced as early as possible. Others
argued that it was too soon to take such a step in 1988,
only three years after the last major constitutional
change, when indirect elections to the Legislative
Council were introduced, or because the system of
elections to be used after 1997 had not yet been
established in the Basic Law due to be promulgated in
1990. In view of this clear division of opinion, and
having taken into account all the arguments, the British
and Hong Kong Governments concluded that on balance it
would be right to make the next major constitutional
change in 1991. The Hong Kong Government's White Paper
published in February 1988, announced that in 1991 ten
seats would be open for direct election from geographical
constituencies, replacing ten seats presently elected by
district based electoral college constituencies.
33. The White Paper was widely welcomed in Hong Kong as
a significant step forward in the territory's
constitutional development. It confirmed the commitmen
of the British and Hong Kong Governments to the steady
development of representative government in Hong Kong
line with the wishes of the community as a whole and
pace that would command general confidence and the widest possible support. The decisions in the White Paper wer