WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1987
27
PUBLIC URGED TO COMMENT ON GREEN PAPER
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THE GOVERNMENT IS ANXIOUS TO HEAR THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON THE 1987 REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND WILL KEEP AN OPEN MIND UNTIL IT HAS LISTENED TO THOSE VIEWS, THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
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AT A PRESS BRIEFING HELD AFTER THE TABLING OF THE GREEN PAPER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD STUDY THE GREEN PAPER CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE OPTIONS AND SEND IN THEIR VIEWS TO THE SURVEY OFFICE AT GPO BOX 8800.
THE PURPOSE OF THE GREEN PAPER WAS TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE SYSTEMS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE FURTHER DEVELOPED IN 1988, AND IF SO, IN WHAT MANNER.
+ IT COVERS THE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS, AND POSSIBLE WAYS OF IMPROVING THE LINKS BETWEEN THEM.
+ IT LOOKS AT THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE METHODS OF CHOOSING ITS MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE QUESTION WHETHER NEW FORMS OF ELECTION TO THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE INTRODUCED.
+IT DISCUSSES WHETHER THE GOVERNOR SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IT LOOKS AT VARIOUS PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ELECTIONS,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAN NOTED THAT ALTOGETHER SOME 40 OPTIONS WERE PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE GREEN PAPER WAS EASILY AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WISHING TO OBTAIN A COPY AND WOULD ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COME FORWARD AND GIVE THEIR VIEWS.
MR CHAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE AMPLE TIME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. +THEY WILL HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30 TO SEND THEIR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO THE INDEPENDENT SURVEY OFFICE WHICH HAS BEEN SET UP TO COLLECT THEIR VIEWS AND, EVENTUALLY, TO REPORT ON THEM.+
+MY OWN OFFICE AND DISTRICT OFFICES OF CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL ALSO BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE FACTUAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AIMED AT CLARIFYING THE CONTENTS OF THE GREEN PAPER, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT CNTA STAFF WOULD BE OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
/FIRSTLY, AT