THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1987
26
DIRECT ELECTION IN 1988 TOO HASTY
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DIRECT ELECTIONS FORM THE BASIS OF A GOOD ELECTORAL SYSTEM BUT IT MAY BE TOO HASTY ΤΟ INTRODUCE THEM IN 1988, THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION ON THE GREEN PAPER, MR TAI EXPLAINED THE REASONS FOR HIS RESERVATIONS.
"THE COUNCIL HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES JUST THREE YEARS AGO WHEN 24 MEMBERS WERE ELECTED FROM DIFFERENT FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCES OF THESE CHANGES TO BE ABSORBED AND ASSESSED, HE SAID.
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HE ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN MORE TIME TO ASSIMILATE THE CHANGE ALREADY MADE AS WELL AS THE PROSPECT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN EARLY 1992.
ANOTHER REASON PUT FORWARD BY MR TAI WAS THAT BY INTRODUCING DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988, IT WOULD NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR PARTIES TO BE EFFECTIVELY FORMED AND GOOD CANDIDATES TO BE CHOSEN.
"PARTIES FORMED IN SUCH HASTE WOULD BE IMMATURE AND MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD TO THE DIRECT ELECTION SYSTEM, HE SAID.
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MR TAI MENTIONED THAT SIX RURAL DISTRICTS IN HIS CONSTITUENCY (WEST NEW TERRITORIES ELECTORAL COLLEGE) HAD STRONG RESERVATIONS AGAINST INTRODUCING DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY VIEW WAS THAT THERE MUST BE DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE 1997 TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL EQUALITY.
TURNING TO THE THREE-TIER SYSTEM, MR TAI WAS SATISFIED THAT ITS OPERATION WAS BASICALLY SOUND AND HARMONIOUS.
"I SEE NO URGENT NEED TO CHANGE THIS ARRANGEMENT BUT FREQUENT REVIEWS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED, HE SAID.
MR TAI SAID THAT THE
EXISTENCE OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WAS SUPPORTED BY MOST RESIDENTS AND THE GENERAL OPINION WAS THAT THEIR PRESENT ROLE SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED.
BUT SOME PEOPLE FELT THAT THE EXTENT OF THEIR ADVISORY ROLE SHOULD BE MORE SPECIFIC AND DEFINITE AND THIS SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE WORDING OF THE DISTRICT BOARD ORDINANCE.
/MR TAI