12
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1987
ACCUSATIONS OF FABRICATION ARE MISPLACED
* * * * *
THE SURVEY OFFICE HAS ACHIEVED WHAT IT SET OUT TO DO BY PROVIDING IN ITS REPORT A "COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCURATE" ACCOUNT OF ALL THE PUBLIC VIEWS COLLECTED, THE HON RITA FAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ACCUSATIONS OF CONSPIRACY AND FABRICATION WERE UNCALLED FOR
AND MISPLACED.
"IT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE SURVEY OFFICE то DRAW CONCLUSIONS, NOR DID IT ATTEMPT TO DO SO,' SHE SAID.
++
MRS FAN FELT THAT THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT CONTAINED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF USEFUL AND MEANINGFUL INFORMATION, SUCH AS THAT A CLEAR MAJORITY WOULD LIKE AN ELEMENT OF DIRECT ELECTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR TO PRESIDE OVER THE COUNCIL, THE VOTING AGE TO REMAIN AT 21, AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE PRESENT LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE IN A GRADUAL MANNER.
THESE VIEWS SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A WHOLE, SHE SAID.
"CONCERN FOR CONFLICTING VIEWS ON ONE ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OVERSHADOW THE CLEAR INDICATION OF PUBLIC OPINION ON A NUMBER OF OFTEN EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT ISSUES, SHE ADDED.
MRS FAN SAID SHE DEDUCED FROM SOME OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS THAT, FIRSTLY, MANY PEOPLE WERE REASONABLY HAPPY WITH THE EXISTING STRUCTURES OR WERE NOT LOOKING FOR CHANGES; AND SECONDLY, WHILE MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DIRECT ELECTIONS INTRODUCED IN 1988, THEY WERE NOT SO STRONGLY MOTIVATED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY MUST HAVE THIS NEXT YEAR.
+
I DO NOT THINK A DELAY OF A FEW YEARS WILL BE UNACCEPTABLE ΤΟ THE COMMUNITY,' SHE SAID.
WHAT PEOPLE WANTED FROM THE GOVERNMENT WAS A DEFINITE COMMITMENT THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN 1991. AND A CLEARLY DEFINED PROCEDURE FOR SUCH INTRODUCTION, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF SEATS, THE CONSTITUENCIES AND THE NOMINATION PROCESS, ACCORDING TO MRS FAN.
THEN
"IF THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO MAKE THIS DEFINITE COMMITMENT, THERE JS EVERY LIKELIHOOD THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION MAY BE SUBJECTED TO QUESTION, AND THIS TIME FOR GOOD REASONS, SHE SAID.
+1
MRS FAN STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC EDUCATION PREPARATION OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS.
IN THE
/THE SURVEY