A VISION OF THE FUTURE
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But images are often created by events beyond our control. When the name of Hong Kong is mentioned nowadays, far too many people probably think either of 1997 or of Vietnamese boat people. We must do what we can to project a more balanced and more positive image of this exciting city. We must emphasise the progress we have made, in every field from the economy to housing. We must draw attention to the attractions of Hong Kong today, for its own people and for those from overseas. We must, above all, tell the world what we are doing ourselves to build for our future.
This is not just a job for the government. All of us can act as ambassadors for Hong Kong. The Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Tourist Association and our Chambers of Commerce play an important part in making Hong Kong's attractions known to a wider audience. This message has particular force when it comes from foreign businessmen who themselves live and work in Hong Kong. Many have been willing to help in this way. I welcome their efforts. We also want to draw on their experience to involve them more in the life of our community. As part of this, I have approved the setting up of an International Business Committee, to be chaired by the Chief Secretary, on which all the main overseas Chambers of Commerce will be represented. This will provide a valuable means of tapping the talents of overseas businessmen for the benefit of the whole community.
Building for the Future: Political
-In the next decade, Hong Kong faces a period of unprecedented political and constitutional change. We must manage this without endangering our stability. We must continue steadily to develop our own institutions in which our community has confidence.
The Development of Representative Government
During the past few years there has been vigorous debate in Hong Kong about how quickly we should develop our system of representative government. Your government has always believed that political development should be based on the widest possible support in the community. We have indeed sometimes been criticised by those who would like to go faster than this principle allows.
This year a number of models for the future composition of this Council have been put forward. One of these was the result of lengthy discussion by the non-official Members of this Council and the Executive Council. These models have stimulated a great deal of debate in the community. This is a good thing. The issues involved are vital for the future of Hong Kong. Out of this debate I hope that a broadly-held Hong Kong view will emerge. This would help the drafters of the Basic Law, when they meet later this year and early in 1990, to carry out the important task of formulating the structure of Hong Kong's political system in and after 1997. The government would also wish to respond positively to such a view when we take decisions on what further changes should be made to the composition of this Council in 1991.
Before taking these decisions, we will consider all aspects of the composition of this Council: the number of official and appointed members, whether there should be a further increase in the number of members elected by functional constituencies and the number of directly-elected seats. We shall have in mind the widely-held view in the community that there should be a somewhat faster rate of development in 1991 than previously envisaged; and also the fact that by 1995 all members of the Council will be elected by one means or another. We must prepare for that situation well in advance.