FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1992
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POLITICAL DEBATE WITHIN BASIC LAW PARAMETERS
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THE DERATE NOW GOING ON ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT WAS A DEBATE WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE BASIC LAW, AND NOT BEYOND THOSE PARAMETERS, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN TRANSITION, MR SZE SAID NEITHER HONG KONG NOR CHINA NOR BRITAIN WANTED TO TRANSFORM THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG OVERNIGHT.
"ALL OF US SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRINCIPLE OF GRADUALISM, WHICH UNDERLIES THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW. IT IS THEREFORE A DEBATE WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE BASIC LAW, AND NOT BEYOND THOSE PARAMETERS," HE EXPLAINED.
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HE SAID THE FUNDAMENTAL DIRECTION OF HONG KONG'S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS WAS A MOVE TOWARDS A WHOLLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE, TO WHICH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.
"THAT IS ENSHRINED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW. THAT IS ALSO A DIRECTION TO WHICH WE HAVE BEEN MOVING PROGRESSIVELY IN THE PAST DECADE. THIS TRANSFORMATION WAS A GRADUAL ONE," HE ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT INDIRECT ELECTION WAS FIRST INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1985, AND DIRECT ELECTION IN 1991. BY 19,95 ALL APPOINTED MEMBERS WOULD BE REPLACED BY NINE ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY MEMBERS AND BY 10 MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED BY AN "ELECTION COMMITTEE".
THE
"WE NEED TO DO THIS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE COMPATIBILITY WITH SYSTEM PRESCRIBED IN THE BASIC LAW SO AS ΤΟ FACILITATE A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT, HE EXPLAINED.
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AS REGARDS HOW PRECISELY THE 19 NEW SEATS WERE TO MR SZE SAID THE BASIC LAW WAS SILENT ON THAT QUESTION AND INCUMBENT ON THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD TO DISCUSS BOTH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THE CHINESE
"IN DRAWING UP OUR PROPOSALS, WE HAVE TO TAKE FULL THOSE VERY MODEST AND REASONABLE ASPIRATIONS OF AN AFFLUENT AND SELF-CONFIDENT COMMUNITY FOR A GREATER THEIR OWN AFFAIRS.
"HENCE,
SAY
BE FORMED, SO IT WAS BE SENSIBLE GOVERNMENT.
ACCOUNT OF INCREASINGLY IN RUNNING
FUNCTIONAL
WE PROPOSED THAT THE NINE NEW CONSTITUENCIES, TOGETHER WITH THE EXISTING 21, SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF GIVING A VOTE TO ALL WORKERS OF DIFFERENT ECONOMIC DIVISIONS.
"HENCE, WE PROPOSED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE SHOULD THEMSELVES BE ELECTED, AND THE BEST MEANS OF ACHIEVING THIS IS FOR THAT COMMITTEE TO COMPRISE SOLELY OR MAINLY ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS," MR SZE EXPALINED.
/HE EMPHASISED