14
DNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985
*
INSTEAD OF 12 CONSTITUENCIES, THE SINGLE LIST SYSTEM COULD BE ADOPTED
* TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY, ASSUMING THAT THE EXISTING SYSTEM WAS RETAINED, VOTING WITHIN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE COULD BE OPEN;
*
TO ALLOW DIRECT ELECTION TO REPLACE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ALTOGETHER SO THAT LEGISLATORS ELECTED ON SUCH A POPULIST BASE COULD BE HELD DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE IR CONSTITUENCIES,
MRS CHOW SAID THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE POPULAR SUPPORT FOR A LIMITED SCALE OF DIRECT ELECTION TO BE INTRODUCED IN 1988.
AT THE SAME TIME, SHE SAID, THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE RESISTANCE FROM THE CONSERVATIVÉ SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
THE +FREE LUNCH+ ARGUMENT WAS WELL-KNOWN AND THE THREAT THAT ADVERSARIAL POLITICS POSED TO STABILITY WAS GENUINELY FEARED, SHE ADDED.
MRS CHOW POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE STILL QUESTIONS LAID DOWN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED. THEY INCLUDED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCILS: THE MONITORING FUNCTION OF THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS ON THE ONE HAND, AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ON THE OTHER: THE ROLE OF THE UNOFFICIALS ON THE VARIOUS PLANES OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE RESOURCE SUPPORT REQUIRED TO FULFILL THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES EFFECTIVELY, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VARIOUS ENTITIES WITHIN THE NETWORK AND HIERARCHY OF ADVISORY BODIES WITH IN GOVERNMENT.
+THE 1987 REVIEW, TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY COMMITTED, MUST BE AS THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE, EXPLORING ALL FACETS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. CONTAINING AS MANY OPTIONS AS ARE PRACTICABLE, SO AS TO ASSIST HONG KONG TO COME TO THE RIGHT DECISION EXPEDIENTLY, SHE SAID.
TURNING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION, SHE SAID IT WAS THE BUSINESS OF ALL OF US, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY THAT OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHICH HAD THE DUTY TO CONTROL, AND IF NECESSARY, TO PROSECUTE DELINQUENT TRADERS, THE POLICE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHERE LEGISLATIVE MEASURES WERE NECESSARY.
→WE HAVE A COMMON CAUSE. WE WILL SUCCEED IF WE MAINTAIN THE PRESENT SPIRIT OF CLOSE CO-OPERATION,+ SHE SAID.
MRS CHOW ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR, SAYING THAT THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WOULD BE PRESENTING TO GOVERNMENT NEXT MARCH A REPORT CONTAINING RECOMMENDATION ON POLICIES RELATING TO YOUTH, HAVING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION VIEWS EXPRESSED IN A MOST MEANINGFUL CONFERENCE OF TWO PARTS ON YOUTH POLICIES IN PERSPECTIVE.
/THE COMMITTEL ...................