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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Following is the proposed composition:
Elected members Chairman Official members Appointed members electoral college functional constit-uencies direct election Present 1 10 22 12 12 0 1988 1 10 18 8 12 8(3) The implementation of this 'pilot scheme' does not mean that it is the beginning of 'great changes' in the Legislative Council. It is only a temporary trial or just a pilot scheme on direct election. The Government should conduct a review and consult the public's opinion on this scheme in 1990/91. Then the Government should decide whether to introduce direct election in 1991/92.
I think that if the above compromise proposal can be carried out, mutual understanding and concession will be achieved and a further confrontation between the people for and against direct election will be avoided. At the same time, worries of people of different viewpoints will be eliminated if direct election is introduced in 1988 in the form of a trial. The following are the reasons:
(1) Since the direct election held in 1988 is just a 'trial' and the final decision on whether direct election should be introduced will be made in 1990/91 after the review on the scheme, and the draft of the Basic Law will be ready in 1988 and be finalized at a preliminary stage in 1990/91, the problem of convergence does not arise.
(2) Introducing direct election in the form of a trial allows the actual direct election to take place after the finalization of the Basic Law. In this way, mutual understanding and concession will be more easily achieved between the Chinese and British governments.
(3) This kind of 'trial' direct election will help achieve a perfect and rational election system and solve the technical problems of direct election:
(a) through the practice of the pilot scheme, the most suitable format and the mode of development of direct election can be found.
(b) the problems and the factors affecting them may be found so that improvements can be suggested in the review.
(c) on the one hand, there is sufficient time to prepare for the actual introduction of direct election. On the other hand, we can make use of the ten years left to realize the terms stated in the Joint Declaration and to lay a sound foundation for the implementation of one country-two systems.
(d) the public may have a more profound understanding on direct election through the practice. This is the best form of civic education and education on election.
(4) If the Chinese and British governments accept this 'pilot scheme' on direct election with mutual understanding and concession, the people of Hong Kong carry out this trial with a serious attitude and the direction of development of direct election is decided in the review in 1990/91, the confidence of China and Hong Kong will be strengthened greatly both in the short run and long run.
Conclusion
Some people may think that to put such an important issue into a trial is a bit 'trifling' and unwise. Some may even doubt its practicability. I would like to point out that the representative government in Hong Kong is developed in the same way. In other words, the different aspects of the representative government can be modified in accordance with the results of the review. Therefore, this 'trial' on direct election is practicable.
Mr. DENG Xiao-ping has said that some policies of the one country-two systems to be implemented in Hong Kong may be evaluated while proceeding. What I propose now on direct election is 'proceed → stop to evaluate → proceed again'. I believe this agrees with the principle put forward by Mr. DENG.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I think it is time for Hong Kong to be her own master and to serve China. Since the publication of the 'Green Paper: The 1987 Review of Developments in Representative Government', the controversy over direct election is the subject that attracts most attention. I have expressed my personal standpoint and opinions on direct election on various occasions in the past. Therefore, I wish to reiterate my points briefly in today's Urban Council Debate.
To vote is the basic right and responsibility of every citizen. Through election, members with genuine representation for the people can be elected. In addition, election can also help establish people's confidence in the government and strengthen their sense of belonging towards society. Therefore, the introduction of direct election will only be beneficial to the future development of Hong Kong.
At present, the bone of contention is the timing of the introduction of direct election. Is it really suitable to introduce direct election to the Legislative Council in 1988? In my opinion, I support the introduction of a directly elected element of 'one man, one vote' in the Legislative Council election in 1988 because this perfectly conforms to the spirit of fairness and justice. Democracy
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