+
is being dis-ased
tu
One section of the Basic Law which will be studied particularly closely and which has already aroused controversy in Hong Kong is
that on the future constitutional structure. Quat recent years,
has ye
་ Hong Kong Government have already taken steps to devel
steps to develop more
representative system of government. When the Joint Declaration was
1984 signed, there were no elected members of the Legislative Council.
Now 26 members
almost half the total are indirectly elected. In
1991 ten directly elected seats will be introduced. And there will
before
A be further changes between now and 1997. The review of
representative government in Hong Kong which was carried out in 1987
elearly showed that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people
supported this process and favoured the gradual evolution of more
But representative government. they did not want
to force the pace,
because they did not want to jeopordise the political stability on
which Hong Kong's prosperity and its way of life depend.
The provisions of the draft Basic Law on the political structure
after 1997 are also based on extensive consultation with the Hong
Kong people. The principle of universal suffrage as the ultimate
objective for the election of the future Hong Kong legislature and
the Chief Executive is now enshrined for the first time in the
yu di talen second draft of the Basic Law. In this respect, the draft Basic Law
goes beyond what was said in the Joint Declaration about the future
The taste to
done is to devise a timetable
and mechanisms for the introduction of universal suffrage in Hong Kong which will command the confidence of the community as a whole. At present, opinions in Hong Kong are divided abhese matterS.
as the debate develops, I very much hope that a consensus will emerge in the coming months.
do fer?.
fan
political system) What romaine
We
to guide
so that the Basic Law Drafting Committe can take-
are playing
discussin
take proper account of thion We will play our part in ensuring that these views and the
intensity of feelings in Hong Kong are reflected to the Chinese
authorities.
% B
I would also like to highlight those provisions of the Joint
Declaration and the Basic Law which are designed to safeguard Hong
Kong's special way of life.