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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1987
+SECONDLY THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, INCLUDING POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE NUMBERS AND BALANCE OF OFFICIAL, APPOINTED, AND ELECTED MEMBERS AND THE QUESTION WHETHER NEW FORMS OF ELECTION TO THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
INTRODUCED;
+THIRDLY; THE QUESTION WHETHER THE GOVERNOR SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL; AND
+FOURTHLY; VARIOUS PRACTICAL QUESTIONS SUCH AS THE SEQUENCE AND TIMING OF ELECTIONS, THE VOTING AGE AND ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS.+
+ IN EACH CASE THE GREEN PAPER CONSIDERS. IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO FAR, THE OPTIONS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN 1988, + MR FORD SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GREEN PAPER DID NOT RECOMMEND ANY ONE OPTION IN PREFERENCE TO ANOTHER, BUT SET OUT THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST EACH OF THOSE OPTIONS.
ALL OF THEM WERE GENUINE OPTIONS, HE SAID.
+THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS. THERE IS NO PRE-DETERMINED OUTCOME, MR FORD STRESSED.
NOTING THAT MUCH HAD HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN 1984, MR FORD SAID THE ISSUES BEFORE US HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT IS NOT SURPRISING, THEREFORE, THAT THERE IS, A RANGE OF SINCERELY HELD VIEWS WITH REGARD TO THE PACE AND DIRECTION OF CHANGE,+
HE REFUTED CRITICISM THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO ABDICATE ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT CHANGES TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE SYSTEMS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN 1988.
+THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT IT HAS THAT RESPONSIBILITY, AND WILL DISCHARGE IT WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR DECISIONS TO BE TAKEN, HE SAID.
+BUT, IN THE FACE OF THE DEFATE NOW TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT IT HAS ANOTHER, MORE IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY: TO LISTEN TO THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON HOW THEY WISH TO SEE THESE SYSTEMS DEVELOP AND TO DO SO UNFETTERED BY PRECONCEIVED IDEAS AS TO THE RIGHT COURSE TO TAKE, + MR FORD ADDED.
MR FORD SAID THE SUCCESS OF ANY COMMUNITY DEPENDED UPON THE COMBINATION OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS, AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS HAVING A STABLE AND CONSISTENT GOVERNMENT THAT COULD OPERATE EFFECTIVELY, AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE MAKING UP THAT COMMUNITY.
/+THIS MEANS