WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1984
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HE SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS, ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED HAD BEEN CAREFULLY RECORDED AND STUDIED AND SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR ADVICE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
+THEREAFTER, I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A FURTHER, DEFINITIVE, STATEMENT TO THIS COUNCIL ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTUAL INTENTIONS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SYSTEM OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AT DISTRICT AND 'REGIONAL' LEVEL, SIR PHILIP SAID.
AS A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION, DR HO ASKED:
+SIR, WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSALS ABOUT THE REPRESENTATIVE STATUS OF OUR TWO MAIN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, MAY I KNOW WHEN THESE PROPOSED PLANS WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC, AND HOW THE GOVERNMENT WILL EDUCATE AND PREPARE THE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INCREASINGLY REPRESENTATIVE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT?+
REPLYING, SIR PHILIP SAID:
+WELL SIR, TAKING THE FIRST PART OF DR HO'S QUESTION, I CANNOT GIVE A COMMITMENT ON TIMING AT THIS STAGE, BUT I EXPECT WE SHALL BE READY TO MAKE THE STATEMENT | ENVISAGE DURING THE SUMMER.
+AS REGARDS THE SECOND PART OF HIS QUESTION, WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER AS VOTERS DURING THE NEXT REGISTRATION SEASON IN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER.+
MR STEPHEN CHEONG THEN ASKED:
+SIR, WE MUST BE GRATEFUL FOR THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S ASSURANCE THAT THE AIM OF THESE PROPOSALS WITH REGARD TO THE TWO MAIN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS WILL BE TO ESTABLISH ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE PROGRESSIVE, PROPERLY TIMED AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG.
+MAY WE BE FURTHER ASSURED THAT THE AIM OF THESE PROPOSALS WILL NOT NECESSARILY LOSE SIGHT OF THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG?+
THE CHIEF SECRETARY REPLIED:
+YES, SIR.+
MRS RITA FAN THEN ASKED:
+MAY I ASK THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WILL THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT BE CONSULTED ON THESE PROPOSALS WHICH HAVE LONG-RANGING EFFECT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG?+
SIR PHILIP:
+
+SIR I AM SURE THAT HON MEMBERS ARE WELL AWARE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, ACTING UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. +
J
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