XN000022-1984-08-02 — Page 5

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1984

HE ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO PUBLISH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE MORE DETAILS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONCEPT OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND DEBATE.

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THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER, A STABLE FOUNDATION COULD BE LAID FOR THE FUTURE SYSTEM OF +PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ADMINISTERING HONG KONG+.

HE ALSO CALLED UPON THE GOVERNMENT TO FURTHER PROMOTE CIVIC AND POLITICAL EDUCATION.

WHILE THERE WERE MERITS IN INDIRECT ELECTIONS, OTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THE GREEN PAPER SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED, THE HON SELINA CHOW SAID.

SHE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE GREEN PAPER HAD LEFT THREE EXTREMELY VITAL ISSUES UNTACKLED: THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF EXCO AND LEGCO, PARTICULARLY THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION= THE APPOINTMENT OF UNOFFICIALS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS SELECTED OR ELECTED, AND IF AND HOW HIS POWER DIFFERS FROM THAT OF THE PRESENT GOVERNOR.

SHE BELIEVED THAT THESE KEY ISSUES NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND THERE SHOULD BE SOME OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER THOUGHT AND DEBATE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

THE HON MARIA TAM OUTLINED THE REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS TO UMELCO OVER THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER.

SHE POINTED OUT THEIR VIEWS WERE IMPORTANT REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY.

ON DIRECT ELECTIONS, SHE HOPED THAT THE ADVOCATES WOULD CONSIDER WHETHER THEY WERE THINKING OF ELECTIONS ON A CONSTITUENCY BASIS OR ON A SINGLE LIST BASIS AND HOW FREE LUNCH' POLITICAL PARTIES OR ORGANISATIONS COULD BE AVOIDED.

SHE CALLED ON OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.

DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP DESCRIBED THE GREEN PAPER AS +A WELL THOUGHT-OUT PACKAGE WHICH OFFERS THE LESSER OF ALL EVILS AND THAT IT CAN WORK TO MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG+.

+I BELIEVE, IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE METHOD WE USE TO CHOOSE WHO REPRESENT US, BUT THAT THE PERSON CHOSEN PERFORMS EFFICIENTLY ON OUR BEHALF AND FOR OUR INTEREST AT HEART, + SHE SAID.

+SO WHILE WE EVOLVE INTO A MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, LET US NOT GO OVERBOARD WITH CRITICISMS BUT RATHER CONCENTRATE ON POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR OBJECTIVES, SHE ADDED.

/THE HON