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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 11 December 1984
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
11 December 1984
MRS. NELLIE FONG (in English): To change from a consultative Government to a Representative Government is not an easy process. Political awareness cannot be expected to develop overnight. Many people blamed the Hong Kong Government for not bringing democracy into Hong Kong earlier and now everything has to be rushed through within the thirteen years. My viewpoint is very different. One can blame the government for whatever happened or did not happen but I do not see rushing and pushing for democracy is the solution. Hong Kong needs stability. Hong Kong needs stability badly to survive. Without stability in a system, Hong Kong will be heading for a disaster. I see the proposals on the Future Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong as a drastic change from an existing system to a new system. The Legislative Council which is involved in the enactment of legislation will be expanding its membership from 48 to 60 in 1985. This will create possibly 24 new members who will have relatively little experience in central administration and enactment of laws. Since the change is going through, I would like to see it stabilizing before introducing further changes. We all understand that foundation has to be built on solid ground.
It is relieving that the existing government has designed a system suitable to Hong Kong. The government is innovative enough to establish a system whereby people from different functional groups and people from different geographical locations can be elected into the Government. It is this principle basic structure in the proposed government system that I am in strong support of.
At this point I would like to declare my interest. I am an accountant, a practising accountant. I feel that I owe it to myself, my profession and all the future young people who wish to take up accountancy as a profession to speak out. Hong Kong prides itself as one of the top business centres in the world. Let's not forget that the accounting profession is contributing to the finance directors, the controllers and the accountants in every business that exists.
There is an audit requirement for all companies incorporated in Hong Kong and the government stresses great importance in the auditor's function especially for public companies and financial institutions. The practising accountants are certainly fulfilling this role.
On another aspect, the government has a budget each year to consider. Should there not be an accountant in the Legislative Council to contribute? We do not work for today, we work for the future. We do not speak for just today, we have to speak for the future. There are about six hundred students coming out of the two universities and the two polytechnics each year as accountants, joining the profession, contributing to the success of Hong Kong as a commercial centre. I cannot see how the government can overlook this and tell them that they do not exist as a functional constituency for the group's future administration of Hong Kong.
With these words, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the White Paper on Representative Government has met with enthusiastic response from many individuals and groups. Some agree with it and are loud in its praise while others are disappointed and indignant over its proposals. Response from the political circle is especially keen as may be seen from the way those who will constitute the electoral college or functional constituencies have openly voiced their stands. No matter what happens, there are bound to be some who are pleased with the situation and others who are not. Those who will become members of the electoral college or functional constituencies and are interested in politics should work hard to fight for opportunities.
I am of the opinion that the White Paper on the whole lacks new ideas. Although government has placed rather much importance on the comments of individuals and groups on the Green Paper and has adopted many of their ideas in formulating the White Paper, I still think the White Paper is short-sighted and lacks high aims. It has not made any positive or specific commitments as regards direct elections, nor has it given a clear picture of the long-term political development in Hong Kong. There is neither planning nor direction in approach and it only focuses on the Legislative Council elections next year, leaving matters such as the Governor's position as President of the Legislative Council, reforms of the Executive Council and direct elections to be considered in the 1987 review.
I think, however, that the White Paper as a whole, with its aims and proposals, may be tolerated for the time-being. Government is trying to move towards democracy in a pragmatic way and has made certain concessions. It also hopes to speed up the process of political reforms. The White Paper has proposed an increase in the number of indirectly elected seats, a reduction in the number of official members, introduction of civic education, remuneration for unofficial members of the Legislative Council and a review to take place two years earlier.
The electoral college and the functional constituencies should only be a temporary, expedient measure and not permanent parts of the political structure, as indirect elections will not return those representing all circles, thus neglecting many aspirants from the various social strata. I hope that in the review in 1987, government will come up with an overall plan for political reforms which are far-sighted and comprehensive and with clear steps, objectives and direction so that before 1997 we can have members of the two Councils all returned by direct elections.
Sir, I support the motion.
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