XN000022-1985-07-20 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1985

NO CUT AND DRIED ELECTION

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SIR DAVID

THE REPEATED BALLOT SYSTEM WILL ENCOURAGE VOTERS TO COME FORWARD DURING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT IT WILL NOT BE A CUT AND DRIED ELECTION, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

IT WOULD NOT DISSUADE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTERS FROM TURNING OUT TO VOTE BECAUSE IT PROVIDED FOR A CONSENSUS AND AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY, HE SAID.

+I THINK IT IS MORE INCLINED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO THINK THAT THEY HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE IF THEY STAND FOR ELECTION, AND I THINK IT'S GOT A GOOD CHANCE OF ENCOURAGING VOTERS TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE THEY WON'T THINK THAT IT IS A CUT AND DRIED ELECTION, +

SIR DAVID WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SECOND HONG KONG ABILYMPIC AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

HE SAID HE SUPPORTED THE TWO VOTING SYSTEMS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION BECAUSE HE WAS +A GREAT BELIEVER IN THE FACT THAT THE CANDIDATES THAT WILL BE ELECTED, SHOULD BE ELECTED, WILL HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT+.

HE WAS SURE THAT THE ELECTION WOULD GO ON SMOOTHLY AND HOPED THAT IT WOULD REPRESENT THE PEOPLE FULLY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON TRANSPORT FOR THE DISABLED, SIR DAVID SAID ALTHOUGH THERE MUST BE SOME AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS COULD NOT BE MADE, HONG KONG HAD COME A LONG WAY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS,

+YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE CONSTRUCTION, FOR EXAMPLE, OF OUR PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGES. VERY FEW CITIES IN THE WORLD HAVE PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGES WHICH IN THE MOST PART CATER FOR THE DISABLED, WHEREAS IN HONG KONG WE HAVE FOOTBRIDGES WHICH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, DISABLED PEOPLE CAN USE, HE SAID.

IN THE BUSY HE ADDED THAT IT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT TO PRODUCE, AND CROWDED STREETS OF HONG KONG, BUSES AND MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY FOR THE DISABLED.

+AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE REHAB BUS SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.

+AND I SHOULD THINK THE CONCENTRATION OF EFFORT REALLY

SHOULD BE IN EXTENDING THE REHAB BUS SYSTEM.+

ASKED WHETHER AVIATION MATTERS WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, SIR DAVID SAID HE COULD NOT SPECULATE ON IT.

+THERE IS REALLY NOTHING I CAN ADD TO THE NEWS ABOUT THE JLG THAN WHAT HAS APPEARED IN THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES,+ HE SAID.

/ASKED IF