HONG KONG
DEMOCRATIC
FOUNDATION
HONG KONG DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATION
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION IN MEETING WITH GOVERNOR CHRISTOPHER PATTEN ON THURSDAY 23 JULY 1992
1.
Introduction to the Foundation
A multinational, centrist political group committed to democracy in a free enterprise Hong Kong.
greater
2.
Democracy (letter attached)
We seek the 1989 OMELCO Consensus: 50% of elected in 1995.
Legco seats
directly
Exco and Legco. We believe in a governmental system led by an executive that is accountable to the legislature. The role of Exco has yet to be properly defined - will it be a simple advisory body or should it take a more executive role with members having their own portfolio?
Similarly, the legislature has to be independent of the executive so that it can function properly to monitor Government policy and its implementation, scrutinise bills, approve Government spending and audit public accounts. Omelco panels should therefore be abolished and replaced by a standing committee system of Legco, backed up by an independent secretariat to assist this separation of role.
- Electoral reform. (See enclosed paper) We support the establishment of an Electoral and Boundaries Commission and reform of the functional constituency voting procedures. We seek the extension of proportional representation from the functional constituencies to the geographical constituencies, preferably through the single transferable vote.
District Boards and Municipal Councils should be 100% directly
elected.
3. Economy
- We support the free market, free enterprise economy, and believe that this flourishes in a politically free society. We support greater competition
dominated by monopolies, and the privatisation/contracting out of government functions where practicable.
in
areas
The present system of low tax rates should be maintained as far as possible. In view of current large fiscal surpluses the progressive tax bands should be widened from the current HK$20,000 to HK$30,000.
Infrastructure links with nearby regions of China should be improved, and border controls streamlined.
Rm. 1401 Hung Tak Commercial Bldg., 106-108 Des Voeux Road Central, H.K. Tel.: 805 1015 Fax: 5432810
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