FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1984
GENERAL SUPPORT FOR GRADUAL CHANGE
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THERE SEEMS TO BE GENERAL SUPPORT FOR GRADUAL CHANGE AND NO SUDDEN SHOCK TO HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY
(FRIDAY).
HE SAID THAT NEVERTHELESS, THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE GREEN PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT ON THE POLITICAL LIFE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE FAR-REACHING.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE TUNG WAH ASSOCIATION OF PAST AND PRESENT DIRECTORS, HE POINTED OUT THAT A NEW ELECTORAL CYCLE OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BEGIN NEXT YEAR.
+ IF WE ARE TO INTRODUCE A SYSTEM WHEREBY SOME (LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL) MEMBERS ARE TO BE ELECTED, WE SHOULD BEGIN THE PROCESS IN 1985 RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTORAL CYCLE OF 1988.
+HENCE THE START NEXT YEAR SO AS TO ALLOW TIME FOR CHANGES TO BE GRADUAL, AND TIME ALSO TO REVIEW THE SITUATION AS IT UNFOLDS, HE ADDED.
HE SAID THAT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE DISTRICT BOARDS, WITH THEIR FAR-REACHING TERMS OF REFERENCE, HAD PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF CONFIDENCE, AND AS AN AVENUE FOR THE EXPRESSION OF OPINION, A STABILISING FACTOR, AND A CHANNEL OF ADVICE.
* IN THIS PERIOD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TOO, HAS CHANGED, AND WHILE ITS SYSTEM OF APPOINTED MEMBERS CONTINUES, IT HAS GROWN IN SIZE TO A TOTAL OF 48 MEMBERS, HE SAID.
+THE GREEN PAPER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THEN, DEALS PRINCIPALLY WITH THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS A STEP IN THE PROCESS OF EVOLVING OUR OWN STYLE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
+ THE GREEN PAPER TOUCHES ON THE QUESTIONS OF DIRECT ELECTIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM, BUT IT IS CONCERNED WITH THE PRACTICAL AND THE POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
+ IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT IT POINTS THE THINKING OF HONG KONG PEOPLE TOWARDS A PRACTICAL WAY IN WHICH THE IR LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS COULD MOST READILY DEVELOP A MORE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAN IN THE STREET; WITH THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SECTORS; WITH THE HOPES, ASPIRATIONS AND FEARS OF THE ORDINARY MAN; AND WITH THE SKILLS, IMAGINATION AND ACUMEN THAT HAVE ENABLED US AS A COMMUNITY TO SURVIVE AND PROSPER WITHOUT ANY NATURAL RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL.+
/MR AKERS-JONES