WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1985
+I THINK WE HAVE MOVED ALREADY VERY QUICKLY IN HONG KONG FROM A SITUATION IN WHICH THE ONLY ELECTIONS WERE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL.
+WE'VE NOW MOVED TO DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND DOUBLED THE NUMBERS; WE HAVE SET UP A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL AND WE HAVE MOVED TOWARDS THESE INDIRECT ELECTIONS AS A FIRST STEP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+THAT ALL CAME OUT OF THE GREEN PAPER AND THE CONSULTATION ON THE GREEN PAPER. I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO REALLY BELIEVED THAT WE COULD HAVE MOVED TO DIRECT ELECTIONS IN THESE ELECTIONS COMING UP.
+WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THE 1987 REVIEW, IS SOMETHING ON WHICH WE SHALL BE LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY TO THE VIEWS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. I AM SURE THERE WILL BE SOME DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THAT SUBJECT.
+BUT WE SHALL HAVE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE THINK AND HOW THEIR IDEAS DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.+
ASKED IF HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS STOOD AT THE MOMENT REGARDING THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS, SIR EDWARD SAID. GIVEN THE PACE WITH WHICH THESE ARRANGEMENTS HAD TO BE MADE. I THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL AND I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING FORWARD.
+I THINK IT WILL BE A VERY INTERESTING ELECTION. IT WILL GIVE YOU ALL A LOT TO WRITE ABOUT.+
ASKED HOW HONG KONG WOULD BE MOVING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION BEFORE 1997, HE SAID: THE AGREEMENT LAYS DOWN, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO 1997 AND THEY HAVE MADE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT THEY INTEND TO CARRY OUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
+ IN THE SECOND PART OF THE WORK OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THERE IS A PROVISION THAT THERE SHOULD THEN BE DISCUSSION OF THE TRANSITION. BUT WE HAVE NOT GOT TO THAT STAGE YET.+
ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, SIR EDWARD SAID IT WAS LARGELY AT THIS STAGE FOR THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE TO DECIDE RATHER THAN FOR HIM TO COMMENT ON.
ASKED WHETHER HE HAD ANY VIEWS ON IT, HE SAID, +WHETHER I HAVE VIEWS AND WHETHER ! EXPRESS THEM ARE OFTEN TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.+
/TALKING ABOUT
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