XN000022-1985-10-10 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, OCTOMER 10, 1985

THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR HONG KONG'S ARRANGEMENTS, HE SAID, HAD TO BE CAREFULLY THOUGHT THROUGH BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WORKING UNDER THE CHIEF SECRETARY, AND THE APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS HAD TO BE OBTAINED.

TAKEN ON SUCH MATTERS AS THE

FIRST PAST THE POST', WHETHER IF A VOTER QUALIFIED IN TWO

+POLICY DECISIONS HAD TO BE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY AS AGAINST THE MULTIPLE VOTING WOULD BE ALLOWED FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND SO ON, HE SAID.

ONCE THESE PRINCIPLES HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED, CONSIDERABLE WORK HAD TO BE DONE BY A TEAM OF DRAFTSMEN WHO DESERVED MUCH PRAISE FOR PUTTING THE ELECTORAL PACKAGE TOGETHER.

THESE UNPRECEDENTED ELECTIONS THUS +PASSED OFF WITHOUT PROBLEMS+, AND NO FLAWS IN THE LEGISLATION CAME TO LIGHT, MR THOMAS SAID. AND IT WAS HIGHLY COMMENDABLE ON THE PART OF ALL THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS AS THERE WAS LITTLE ACRIMONY OR VITUPERATION. IT WAS QUITE COMMON FOR CANDIDATES

IN OTHER SOCIETIES TO ABUSE ONE ANOTHER SHAMEFULLY, +WITH THREATS, ACCUSATIONS AND EVEN LIBEL WRITS FLYING LIKE CONFETTI AT A WEDDING.+

HONG KONG COULD BE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT ON ALL SIDES, +WE HAVE HEARD OF HONEST AND STRAIGHTFORWARD CAMPAIGNING, IN WHICH WORTHY CANDIDATES OFFERED THEMSELVES, THEIR VIEWS AND WHAT THEY STOOD FOR, AS THE INDUCEMENTS FOR SUPPORT.+

+THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO FEARS THAT THERE MIGHT BE +WIDESPREAD

JERRYMANDERING AND CORRUPTION+, IN THE ELECTIONS, HE SAID THERE WERE ONLY FIVE COMPLAINTS MADE TO THE ICAC, COMPARED WITH OVER 80 COMPLAINTS AFTER THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

+ONLY THREE INVOLVE ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR AND ARE INVESTIGABLE. IF TRUE, ONE IS TRIFLING, ONE SERIOUS IN A MINOR WAY, AND ONE ONLY IS SERIOUS, HE ADDED.

ALL THIS, HE SAID, SHOWED THAT HONG KONG COULD ADAPT ITSELF TO A NOVEL ELECTORAL PROCESS READILY AND THAT THOSE WHO ASPIRED TO POLITICAL OFFICE COULD ACQUIT THEMSELVES WELL.

+ IT HAS BEEN A VERY ENCOURAGING FIRST STEP TOWARDS AN ELECTED LEGISLATURE,+ HE SAID.

SPEAKING OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE LEGAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS, HE SAID THEY DID A GREAT SERVICE TO THE ELECTORAL PROCESS+, NOT ONLY BY OFFERING THEMSELVES AS CANDIDATES, BUT ALSO BY CONDUCTING A SERIOUS CAMPAIGN WHICH REACHED OUT TO EVERY VOTER.

WITH REGARD