N
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1994
THE MRS CHAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUED TO BELIEVE THAT BEST CASE FOR A THROUGH-TRAIN WAS FOR THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS TO BE
OPEN AND FAIR, RESULTING DEMONSTRABLY
CREDIBLE IN A
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH COULD COMMAND THE WIDE RESPECT OF THE COMMUNITY,
THAT
"THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL STANDS TODAY ON THE BRINK OF ONE OF THE MOST MOMENTOUS DECISIONS IN ITS ENTIRE HISTORY A DECISION WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR THE FIRST FULLY ELECTED COUNCIL.
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"I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN MAKING YOUR DECISION, MEMBERS WILL FALL BELOW THE LEVEL OF EVENTS ON THIS HISTORIC DAY AND WILL NOT ΤΟ ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOPES AND WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF KONG," SHE TOLD COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NOT
FAIL
HONG
GOVT NOT INTRODUCING DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS THROUGH FC
* * * * *
IN
SAID
THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR NICHOLAS NG, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT INTRODUCING MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS BY CREATING THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMPTION OF SECOND READING ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ) ( AMENDMENTS) BILL 1994 DEBATE, MR NG ELABORATED ON THE THREE IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
HE SAID: "THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS WOULD MEAN THAT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE WILL BE TAKE PART IN FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS.
то
CONTINUE ABLE
ΤΟ
"IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE WORKFORCE, SUCH AS STUDENTS, RETIREES, HOUSEWIVES, ETC,' HE SAID.
MR NG EMPHASISED THAT PROPOSALS REGARDING THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WERE NOT RADICAL CHANGES.
"RATHER, THEY ARE ALL FIRMLY BASED ON THE ESTABLISHED CONCEPT OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, INCLUDING THE GUIDELINE, AS SET OUT IN THE 1988 WHITE PAPER, THAT FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES ARE
ΤΟ PROVIDE REPRESENTATION FOR THE DIFFERENT ECONOMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SECTORS WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND OF IMPORTANCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
"THUS,
EACH OF THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES REPRESENTS A MAJOR SECTOR WHICH OVER THE YEARS HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
"THE PROPOSALS ARE, OF COURSE, ALSO ENTIRELY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW,'
CONSISTENT WITH
MR NG SAID IT WAS WRONG TO CHARACTERISE THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AS "LABOUR" CONSTITUENCIES.
HE SAID THE PROPOSAL WOULD ENFRANCHISE NOT ONLY THE AVERAGE BLUE OR WHITE COLLAR WORKERS, BUT PEOPLE WORKING IN MIDDLE AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AS WELL.
"IN TERMS