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3.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The concept of functional groups not clearly defined.
The Green Paper does not define the eligibility of the functional groups. The ambiguity will give rise to conflicts and class struggles among the numerous professional groups in Hong Kong. On the other hand, how are the group representatives selected? Will it be on the basis of one group one vote or one member one vote? The contributions of the financial circles and professional groups are no doubt of great importance to the prosperity of Hong Kong, but if these small groups of people are treated as the privileged class, it would not be fair to the rest of the community. And, such elections should not be regarded as indirect, as they are indeed direct elections of the special class and minority groups. If more effective ways could be found to recruit members of the financial circles to the Councils, such elections should be scrapped.
(5) Some suggestions:
1. Stepping up of civic education.
2.
3.
Civic education should be introduced right away to heighten the people's political consciousness and make them more concerned with public affairs, so that elections, direct or indirect, could be conducted smoothly and the truly worthy and capable take their place in the Councils.
Direct elections be held as soon as possible.
If direct elections are to be held, they should not be delayed until some years later. When indirect elections are held in 1985, direct elections should also be conducted for some of the seats and the whole position could be reviewed in 1987. Enlargement of membership.
Membership of the Legislative Council which has numerous important duties to shoulder should not be limited to about forty. It should be enlarged according to its needs. There is no harm to expand the membership to a hundred. The municipal council of London has a membership of over 90, so why can't the very important Legislative Council have a larger membership?
Setting of minimum qualifications.
To recruit leaders of large calibre from all circles to the highest organ of power, the minimum qualifications of a candidate should be university degree or post-secondary diploma, together with the experience of several years' social service. This is a guarantee of the quality of those who will shoulder important responsibilities.
5. Expansion of the powers and functions of the Legislative and Executive Councils.
The administrative reforms would be of insignificant practical meaning if they deal only with the method of elections and the size of membership without a breakthrough in the expansion of the powers and functions of the two Councils. The reforms should aim at expanding the Councils' powers in formulating policies in regard to local affairs and at giving leadership to and supervision of the government departments, while being compatible with the political system of China. Thus the system may be carried on by the autonomous government of Hong Kong after 1997.
Conclusion
The administrative reforms in Hong Kong should take into consideration the community as a whole and should pave the way to a high degree of democratic self-rule. Whether we shall have direct or indirect elections, we should unite together, discard our preconceived notions, be understanding, and work with one heart to develop the system of government firmly rooted in Hong Kong and serve to preserve the stability and prosperity here.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, reforms in the system of government in Hong Kong should aim at promoting the prosperity, stability and progress of the society as a whole, and should be effected step by step to build an efficient and representative government directly accountable to and with its source of power coming from the people.
Basing on these principles, I would like to suggest the following vis-a-vis the Green Paper:
1.
Direct and indirect elections
I support in principle a democratic government whose source of power comes from the people. However, attention should also be paid to the importance of an efficient, representative government which maintains the balanced interests of various sectors. After considering the circumstances of Hong Kong and the interests of its society as a whole, I agree that the future government should embrace direct and indirect elections as well as the appointed system which will complement each other, but direct elections should be the mainstay.
My proposals are:
(a) One-fifth of the Legislative Councillors should be directly elected not later than 1988.
(b) Three-fifths of the Legislative Councillors should be directly elected not later than 1994 and the remaining two-fifths of the seats be filled by indirectly elected and appointed members. Official members should then sit as observers and have no right to vote.
(c) The Legislative Council should have the right to recommend candidates to the Governor (or the future administrative head) for appointment
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