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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1988
SUPPORT FOR ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS
WHILE IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT A STABLE POLITICAL STRUCTURE 19 CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE NEVERTHELESS TO PROVIDE FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION THROUGH 1997, DR THE HON RICHARD LAI SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, DR LAI SAID THE DOCUMENT REPEATEDLY HIGHLIGHTED "STABILITY" AND "PRUDENT CHANGES", BUT IT POINTED TO NO DIRECTION THE BASIC LAW.
BUT
HE ALSO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS IN DEVELOPING REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
DR LAI SAID IT WAS NOT SURPRISING THAT THERE WAS NO DIRECT ELECTION IN 1988, AS THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT LAST NOVEMBER HAD FORESHADOWED THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION.
U
ALTERNATIVELY, 10 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES ARE TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL IN 1991," HE SAID.
BASED
ON
LEGISLATIVE
WHILE I WELCOME THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN GENERAL, I CANNOT SUPPORT ITS TIMING, AND MOREOVER, ITS REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING SEATS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS. 11
DR LAI SAID THAT DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD, AND A9 SET OUT IN THE LAST CHAPTER IN THE WHITE PAPER, IT HAD BEEN WIDELY ADVOCATED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION HAD TO PROCEED IN LINE WITH THE BASIC LAW PROVISIONS.
"THE BASIC LAW WILL BE PROMULGATED IN 1990. IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE DISPLACEMENT OF ELECTORAL COLLEGES WILL CONVERGE WITH WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE BASIC LAW,' HE SAID.
"EVEN THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW WILL ONLY BE RELEASED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION THIS MAY, IT GIVES CAUSE FOR CONCERN THAT CHINA AND BRITAIN HAVE REACHED MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE FUTURE SET-UP OF THE SAR GOVERNMENT.
"IF NOT, WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR REAFFIRMING ON ONE HAND THE NEED TO COPE WITH THE BASIC LAW PROVISION, AND ON THE OTHER HAND MAKE SUCH A DECISION WELL BEFORE THE PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW?"
DR LAI SAID HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE PRESENT DISTRICT BOARD ELECTORAL COLLEGES WERE TO BE REPLACED BY SEATS DIRECTL ELECTED FROM 10 DISTRICT-BASED CONSTITUENCIES.
"THE WHITE
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