WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1992
MY
PROPOSALS HONG KONG STARTED
THE GOVERNOR HAS REPEATEDLY EMPHASISED, AS I POINTED OUT IN SPEECH IN THIS COUNCIL ON 14 OCTOBER THIS YEAR, THAT THESE WERE PUT FORWARD FOR CONSULTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF AND WITH CHINA. DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE WITH THE VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO PEKING LAST MONTH. I ENTIRELY AGREE ON THIS WITH MEMBERS THAT OUR DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
ONE REPEAT
POINT. THERE IS MUST MATTER
CONTINUE. BUT LET ME
MAKING A "SECRET ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
KONG, DEAL" OVER THE HEADS OR BEHIND THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG AND IMPOSE IT ON THIS COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY,
CONTINUE TO EXPRESS
SOME
NATURE OF GIVEN THAT DOUBTS EXPRESSED BY SOME MEMBERS ON THE THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE, I THINK IT IS WORTH REPEATING THAT THE PRESENT WE ENCOURAGE MEMBERS, PACKAGE IS A SET OF PROPOSALS, NOT DECISIONS.
THEIR VIEWS ON THESE ΤΟ AND THE
THEM PROPOSALS. IF ANYBODY HAS OTHER SPECIFIC PROPOSALS, LET US HEAR
1 HOPE THAT SUCH A AND LET US DISCUSS THEM LOGICALLY AND RATIONALLY.
NOT A IT IS DEFINITELY FOR REQUEST
PROPOSALS IS TAKEN POSITIVELY,
THREAT.
INTIMIDATION BUT HAVE HEARD RUMOURS AND ALLEGATIONS OF I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT ANYONE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS THE CULPRIT. 1 AM ENCOURAGED THAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE
I AGREE WITH SOME IDEAS EMERGING FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WHO HAVE MADE THE POINT THAT THE TIME FOR A FINAL DECISION IS NOT YET TAKE PLACE IN THE WITH US.
MORE DISCUSSION WILL NO DOUBT MUCH COMMUNITY, AND IN THIS CHAMBER BEFORE THAT TIME COMES. BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE WELL DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN 1994 AND THEIR ENABLING LEGISLATION HAVE TO BE IN PLACE MUCH EARLIER, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO
WE DO ADOPT THE GREEN PAPER FOLLOWED BY THE WHITE PAPER PROCESS.
IT IS THEREFORE ALL THE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME. IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS NOW.
MEMBERS
UNFORTUNATELY BEFORE THE
WOULD
COUNCIL,
NOT
MORE
BY
ADVISE MEMBERS
OUR CURRENT INTENTION IS TO INTRODUCE INTO THIS EARLY NEXT YEAR, LEGISLATION ON THE PRECISE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO 1994-95 ELECTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS REASSURE MR NGAI THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE ASKED TO ON THESE PROPOSALS BEFORE THEY ARE PRESENTED TO THIS COUNCIL. OF THIS COUNCIL WILL THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES
OF WHETHER
ASPIRATIONS THESE PROPOSALS
REFLECT THE TRULY COMMUNITY, AND WHETHER THEY SERVE THE LONG-TERM INTEREST OF HONG KONG.
THE
CLEAR, WE
FOR
WHO WILL
MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT, AS THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO MADE INTEND TO BE FRANK AND TO BE OPEN WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IT IS THEIR FUTURE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, AND IT IS THEY
CLEARLY, WE OF OUR DECISIONS,
ALL ATTACH BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES
AND AFTER IMPORTANCE TO CONVERGENCE OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM BEFORE
WRONG TO 1997; I ENTIRELY AGREE WITH MR BARROW AND MR IP THAT IT IS
TRRECONCILABLE OPPOSITES. ASSUME THAT CONVERGENCE AND DEMOCRACY ARE MR BARROW IS RIGHT THAT CONVERGENCE IS NOT A ONE-SIDED PROCESS. ULTIMATE TEST IS
ARE OPEN, WHETHER SUCH ARRANGEMENTS ACCEPTABLE ΤΟ THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THERE CAN BE NO QUALIFYING THAT ACCEPTABILITY WHICH IS, AS I SAID, VERY BOTTOM LINE. FOR THAT REASON, EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT
PUI-CHUNG'S CHIM
MR
AMENDMENT.
THANK
THE FAIR AND QUESTION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S
YOU,
MR
DEPUTY
PRESIDENT.
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