XN000022-1984-11-21 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1984

SIR EDWARD SAID IN MAKING THE CHANGES THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE PROPOSALS SET OUT IN THE GREEN PAPER.

IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS HAD BROUGHT FORWARD TO 1985 SOME OF THE ARRANGEMENTS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED FOR 1988; AND THAT THERE REMAINED A CASE FOR ALLOWING THESE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE TESTED OVER AT LEAST TWO ELECTIONS BEFORE THEY WERE REVIEWED, SIR EDWARD SAID.

+CERTAINLY WE DO NOT WISH TO RISK THE INSTABILITY WHICH COULD BE CAUSED BY DISRUPTIVE CHANGE.

+BUT THERE WAS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA OF A REVIEW, AND ALSO A WIDELY EXPRESSED FEELING THAT IT SHOULD BE HELD BEFORE THE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR 1988, SIR EDWARD ADDED.

HE SAID IT WAS ALSO EVIDENT THAT HONG KONG'S REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM MUST BE DEVELOPED PROGRESSIVELY OVER THE YEARS TO COME.

THERE WOULD BE A NEED BEFORE THE 1988 ELECTIONS TO CONSIDER FURTHER NOT ONLY THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS BUT OTHER ISSUES RAISED IN THE GREEN PAPER IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE SINO-BRITISH DRAFT AGREEMENT.

+GIVEN THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE STRONG PUBLIC FEELING ON THE ISSUE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO HOLD A GENERAL REVIEW IN 1987. THIS WILL ASSESS PROGRESS, AND RECOMMEND WHAT FURTHER MEASURES SHOULD BE PURSUED IN THE FUTURE, SIR EDWARD TOLD THE COUNCIL.

HE SAID IN PREPARING THE WHITE PAPER, THE GOVERNMENT HAD KEPT FIRMLY IN VIEW THE AIMS SET OUT IN THE GREEN PAPER.

THESE WERE:

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TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY; ON WHICH THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE FULLY REPRESENTED; AND WHICH IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

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TO DEVELOP THIS SYSTEM PROGRESSIVELY. BUILDING ON THE EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, AND THE WELL-ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSENSUS; AND

TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROPOSALS TO BE TESTED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE, AND TO HOLD A REVIEW OF THE POSITION BEFORE DECIDING THE DIRECTION AND TIMING OF ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF THE SYSTEM.

/+THOSE AIMS