4.18.
(b)
(c)
to build this system on our existing institutions, which have served Hong Kong well, and, as far as possible, to preserve their best features, including the maintenance of the well established practice of government by consensus; and
to allow for further development if that should be the wish of the community."
1984 White Paper:-
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The Green Paper was followed by a White Paper with:-
"A summary of the Government's intentions and legislative proposals
relating to the further development of representative government at the central level in Hong Kong:-
Main Aims:
"The main aims are to develop progressively a system of
representative government at the central level which is more directly accountable to the people of Hong Kong and is firmly rooted in Hong Kong; to base this system on our existing institutions, as far as possible, and to preserve their best features; and to allow for further development later on."
The United Kingdom Position
(1) "The constitutional development of Hong Kong has caused great
interest and a large number of hon. members have expressed legitimate concerns. We all fully accept that we should build up a firmly-based democratic administration in Hong Kong in the years between now and 1997."
(2) "It is firmly agreed that the British Government will be
responsible for the administration of Hong Kong until 1st July, 1997.
That includes responsibility for constitutional development. However, we have all recognised the need in this context to keep in mind the provisions of the agreement on the
future of Hong Kong [Such] considerations will continue to be
important, but the responsibility remains ours.
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(3) "The Joint Declaration provides for the administration of Hong
Kong to be in local hands, and for the executive to be accountable to an elected legislature."
(4) "It is important that Hong Kong people should be in no doubt where
administrative responsibility lies. In working for Hong Kong's long-term future, we shall not lose sight of our responsibilities in the period before 1997. Until that time, we should continue to revise the framework within which Hong Kong Government can