CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 27110OZ FCO
TELNO 2876
OF 271005Z SEPTEMBER 90
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
REC
HKB 011
17
4
062271
MDHIAN 1544
TOP COPY @ DIST?
PERSONAL FOR PAUL FROM GOVERNOR
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
THIRD IPT: ADDRESS TO LEGC0: 10 OCTOBER: POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
BEGINS
84. I SHOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. THIS SYSTEM IS A PRODUCT OF OUR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: OUR STATUS AS A NON-SOVEREIGN TERRITORY: OUR SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA: THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR ECONOMY: AND THE INCREASING POLITICAL AWARENESS OF OUR POPULATION. OUR SYSTEM HAS EVOLVED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS AND POSITION OF HONG KONG. THE NEXT STAGE IN THE PROCESS OF EVOLUTION WILL BE THE THREE SETS OF ELECTIONS IN 1991.
85. THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THIS COUNCIL NEXT YEAR WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. IT VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY RESPOND POSITIVELY. WE NEED CANDIDATES OF HIGH CALIBRE, REPRESENTING A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS. WE NEED THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHT TO VOTE. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR FULL AND PROPER CONTRIBUTION TO SHAPING HONG KONG'S FUTURE ONLY IF THEY ACCEPT A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENTHUSIASTIC AND WELL-INFORMED PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. TAKING PART IN ELECTIONS MEANS BEING PREPARED NOT JUST TO WIN, BUT TO LOSE AS WELL. THERE IS NO DISHONOUR IN THAT.
86. MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL UNINTERESTED IN POLITICS AND PREFER TO BE LEFT TO GET ON WITH WHAT THEY DO BEST: HELPING THEIR FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE A BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING. THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL IN THIS, NOR IS IT UNIQUE TO HONG KONG. WE MUST ENCOURAGE SUCH PEOPLE WE MUST ENCOURAGE ALL OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO WILL SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. EQUALLY, OUR POLITICIANS MUST BE
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