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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1984
+AT THIS STAGE IN OUR HISTORY THIS CANNOT BE LEFT TO CHANCE. THIS MUCH HAS BEEN RECOGNISED BY THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THE METHOD OF MEETING IT. WE SHALL ELABORATE OUR PROPOSALS FURTHER IN THE FORTHCOMING WHITE PAPER.+
SIR EDWARD SAID THAT THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR
AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM HAD BEEN WIDELY DISCUSSED.
+THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR RAISES IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AND THE MINISTERIAL SYSTEM IS NOT THE ONLY WAY OF PROCEEDING,+ HE SAID.
SUMMING UP HE SAID: IN ALL THESE MATTERS, TO DRAW UP SCHEMES AND PREDICT THEIR SUCCESS ON THE BASIS OF EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE IS NOT ENOUGH. OUR SYSTEMS MUST GROW FROM OUR SOCIETY AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY WILL NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT FIRM ROOTS SET IN THE SOCIETY FROM WHICH THEY SPRING.
+WHEN CONSIDERING CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WE SHALL ALSO NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THE PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. AS I EXPLAINED IN MY STATEMENT LAST WEEK THE PROVISIONS OF THAT AGREEMENT ALLOW SCOPE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM AS THE YEARS PROGRESS. WE CAN THEREFORE MOVE FORWARD BUT WE SHALL DO SO WITH CIRCUMSPECTION.+
AFTER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD CONSIDERED ALL VIEWS PUT FORWARD A WHITE PAPER WOULD BE PREPARED WHICH WOULD SET OUT DEFINITIVE PLANS AND WHICH WOULD BE PUBLISHED FOR DEBATE.
+THESE PLANS WILL REPRESENT ONLY ONE FURTHER STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. THEY DO NOT PRECLUDE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG'S CONTINUED GROWTH AND PROSPERITY THAT ITS SYSTEMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE TIMES AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF THOSE TO WHOM IT OWES ITS MANDATE,+ SAID SIR EDWARD.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT DEVELOPING STEADILY
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AT REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL WAS PROGRESSING STEADILY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE SAID THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD A FINE RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT IN THE IR FIRST THREE YEARS, AND HAD BECOME AN IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL PART OF THE POLITICAL LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.
/SIR EDWARD