SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
DIRECT ELECTION DEALT WITH IN GREEN PAPER
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THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTION WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON POLITICAL REFORMS, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE PUBLISHED IN MAY.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE +WALK FOR LUCK + AT THE SHA TIN RACECOURSE, MR FORD SAID THE WHITE PAPER IN 1984 HAD MENTIONED THAT THE SUBJECT OF DIRECT ELECTION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE GREEN PAPER.
+ IT IS A GENUINE EXERCISE IN SOUNDING PUBLIC OPINION AND THE SUBJECTS WHICH WE SAID WE WOULD INCLUDE, WE WOULD INCLUDE,+ HE SAID.
ON REPORTS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OPPOSED DIRECT ELECTION, MR FORD SAID: +1 THINK THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE ON THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE GREEN PAPER EXERCISE IS FOR PEOPLE TO IGNORE SPECULATION AND TO LISTEN TO WHAT IS BEING SAID.
+THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE THEIR POSITION VERY CLEAR AND THAT IS THAT THEY HAVEN'T YET MADE UP THEIR MIND ABOUT WHAT SHOULD GO INTO THE BASIC LAW. THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE RESULT OF THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND MR XU (JIATUN) HIMSELF SAID THIS WEEK THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND NO VIEWS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
+AS FAR AS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED, WE HAVE NOT YET MADE UP OUR MINDS EITHER. WE ARE GOING INTO AN EXERCISE OF CONSULTATION ON THE GREEN PAPER, AND UNTIL THOSE TWO EXERCISES ARE COMPLETE, I THINK THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE IS FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS AND NOT BE INFLUENCED BY SPECULATION.+
MR FORD STRESSED THAT THE POLITICAL REVIEW WOULD NOT BE DELAYED.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SEEK PUBLIC. OPINION ON THE GREEN PAPER, THE OPINION WOULD BE ASSESSED THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS AND THEN IN THE LIGHT OF THE OPINION, A WHITE PAPER WOULD BE PUBLISHED,
+I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL POSSIBLE WAYS OF ASSESSING PUBLIC OPINION. IT COULD INCLUDE THE OPTION OF AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE, A PUBLIC OPINION POLLS, AND THROUGH OUR NORMAL CHANNELS+, HE SAID.
+WE ARE WORKING ON THIS NOW. WE HAVEN'T YET COME TO A CONCLUSION ON IT. +
/COMMENTING