WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1992
IN
-
FROM
MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT, HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY IS ROOTED IN A STABLE COMMUNITY WHOSE PEOPLE IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH ITS WAY OF LIFE
WE WHO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS AFFAIRS. AND
ARE INVESTING HEAVILY IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PEOPLE AND OUR FUTURE UPGRADING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE (THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME BEING A CASE POINT), TO IMPROVING HEALTH CARE, WIDER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, MORE SUPPORT FOR THE DISADVANTAGED AND CLEANING UP OUR ENVIRONMENT. THE PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN THIS COUNCIL ON 7 OCTOBER FORM A DISTINCT PART OF THIS LONG-TERM TO INVESTMENT AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL ENABLE MORE HONG KONG PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC LIFE AND HAVE A GREATER SAY IN MANAGING THEIR SYSTEMS" OWN AFFAIRS. AND TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT "ONE COUNTRY, TWO CAN REALLY BE MADE TO WORK.
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DEMOCRACY
THESE ARE MODEST CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO
WHILST A MODEST FURTHER STEP TOWARDS MORE TAKE
BEING FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW. WE ARE NOT SEEKING CONFRONTATION. ON THE CONTRARY, WE ARE TRYING TO ENSURE A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS TRANSITION.
LAW
BASIC.
NOT
FOR
THE CRITICISE OUR PROPOSALS AS RUNNING COUNTER TO SOME
OR THE SPIRIT OF THE BASIC LAW AND THEREFORE AS BEING CONDUCIVE TO STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. THE FACTS, HOWEVER, SPEAK THEMSELVES. WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED IS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE THE BASIC
IT IS A FACT THAT THE BASIC LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE ALL LAW. ANSWERS ON HOW THE 1995 ELECTIONS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED. FOR
FOR EXAMPLE, ARE IT IS SILENT ON HOW THE NINE ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
FIRST TO BE DELINEATED. IT HAS NOT SPECIFIED THE COMPOSITION OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE. SO SUCH POINTS HAVE TO BE FLESHED OUT, AND OUR PROPOSALS SEEK TO DO PRECISELY THAT. IN FORMULATING THE PROPOSALS, WE HAVE TAKEN CARE TO FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES OF GRADUAL AND ORDERLY PROGRESS, AND OF OPENNESS AND DEMOCRACY ENSHRINED IN THE BASIC LAW.
OUR
LET ME REITERATE WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID REPEATEDLY: PROPOSALS ARE PROPOSALS, NOT DECISIONS. THEY ARE
FOR INTENDED
BOTH DISCUSSION
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH CHINA. WE WELCOME SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVES WHICH CAN MEET THE THREE CRITERIA OF OPENNESS, I AM PLEASED FAIRNESS, AND ACCEPTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,
BY TO SEE THAT ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS ARE NOW EMERGING, INCLUDING SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL. I WOULD ASSURE YOU THAT THEY WILL BE STUDIED WITH THE GREATEST CARE - BY THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT HOPEFULLY ALSO BY THE WIDER COMMUNITY TOO LEADING TO RATIONAL DEBATE.
T
/IT IS