XN000022-1985-01-10 — Page 28

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1985

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROBABLY ARGUE AWAY ANY GROUP'S COMPLAINT, SUCH AS THE ACCOUNTANTS' NON-INCLUSION IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, BY SAYING THAT THEY WOULD MAKE GOOD ANY IMBALANCE BY THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

ON THE POLITICAL APATHY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, MR TONG SAID THERE WAS THE NEED FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF CIVIC EDUCATION.

HE ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPLAIN CLEARLY AND CANDIDLY ITS THINKING BEHIND ITS POLICIES.

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MANY KEY QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED SELINA CHOW

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THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT LEFT MANY KEY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED, THE HON SELINA CHOW SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT. MRS CHOW SAID THE WHITE PAPER HAD RETROGRESSED FROM THE EARLIER GREEN PAPER,

SHE SAID: IT IS TRUE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONDED TO POPULAR REQUEST BY EXTENDING THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS FOR BOTH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, AND BY ADVANCING THE DATE OF REVIEW TO 1987.

+ IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT IF WE ARE TO TAKE A STEP BY STEP APPROACH, WE KNOW AT LEAST WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS.

+BUT SURELY WHAT THE WHITE PAPER FAILS TO DO IS TO GIVE US A COMPLETE VIEW OF THE OVERALL THINKING TO THE PROGRESSION AND DESTINATION OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT,

+IT FAILS TO SEE BEYOND THE NEXT STEP. THE WHITE PAPER APPEARS TO ME TO HAVE RETROGRESSED FROM THE GREEN PAPER, FOR THE LATTER WAS LOOKING AS FAR AHEAD AS 1991, WHEREAS THE FORMER DOES NOT PROCEED BEYOND 1987. THE ONLY CERTAINTY BEYOND 1987 IS WHAT WE FIND IN SECTION 1 OF ANNEX 1 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.

+THERE IS A 10 YEAR GAP BETWEEN 1987 AND '97, WHEN, STILL AT THIS STAGE, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN. KEY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT UNRESOLVED. FOR INSTANCE:

1) WILL THERE BE A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM?

2) HOW WILL THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BE CHANGED?

3) WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM?

/4) HOW WILL