XN000022-1987-07-16 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1987

ADMINISTRATION THAT IT NOT CONTRAVENE

MR LAI SAID THE COUNCIL HAD BEEN ASSURED BY THE THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WAS A GENUINE OPTION IN THE REVIEW AND

WOULD ELECTIONS HAD ALSO BEEN CONFIRMED THAT DIRECT THE JOINT DECLARATION.

POLITICAL

"IF THE PRINCIPLE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IS CORRECT AND REALITY IS RECEPTIVE TO THEM, IF THE SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE JUSTIFIES THEM, ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT PERMITS THEM, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE DIRECT IN 1988?" MR LAI QUESTIONED.

HE SAID:

INTRODUCTION "AFTERALL,

OF A

ELECTIONS

SMALL

PORTION OF TO A GRADUAL

DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE IS CONDUCIVE PROCESS OF POLITICAL CHANGES IN THE RUN-UP TO 1997.

DO NOT "MERE TECHNICAL DETAILS

CONSTITUTE ANY GROUNDS FOR OF THE PROCESS OF DELAYING FURTHER OPENING UP

GOVERNMENT TO THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PEOPLE," HE SAID.

CLARIFY, "THAT IS A SIMPLE ARGUMENT, ONE THAT IS FORMULATED TO

OF THE CURRENT NOT TO CONFUSE, AND ONE THAT I TRUST IS AT THE HEART

IN 1988. Ι DEBATE OF WHETHER TO HAVE DIRECT ELECTIONS AND HAVE THEM SEE NO CHANCE ANYONE CAN PROVE THE CONTRARY.

AND "HAVING SAID ALL THAT, HAVING ESTABLISHED ALL THE PREMISES

THE MORAL DERIVING ALL THE ARGUMENTS, WHY CAN'T WE STAND UP AND TAKE

POINT TO THE WAY OF RESPONSIBILITY AS LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO DIRECT ELECTIONS AND UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE?" MR LAI ASKED.

HIDE BEHIND THE HE STRESSED THAT COUNCILLORS COULD NO LONGER

FOR ONCE TAKE SHELTER OF THE SO-CALLED "SILENT MAJORITY" AND SHOULD THE

OF INITIATIVE IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

AS BEING DEAF TO MR LAI SAID: "WE HAVE BEEN CRITICISED

THE DAYA VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, OUR CREDIBILITY TOOK A BEATING IN EPISODE AND THE PUBLIC ORDER FIASCO."

CLEARLY POINTS

THE

BAY

BE

LET

AND WE HERE, IN ALONE ITS

"IF THE PUBLIC

TO DIRECT ELECTIONS CANNOT EVEN FOLLOW THIS TIME, WE WILL LOSE THE RIGHT TO AS FOLLOWERS OF THIS CHAMBER EVEN

THE

LEADERS, HE NOTED.

MR LAI SAID BEING A REALIST, IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEED OF

COMMUNITY,

HE WAS WILLING TO MAKE GRADUAL CHANGE.

COMPROMISE

OF UNDOUBTEDLY A MORE ADVANCE FORM

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, HE

A

WHILE DIRECT ELECTIONS WERE PRACTISING DEMOCRACY AND ACHIEVING

THE ELECTORAL THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO RETAIN CONSTITUENCY SYSTEMS, AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER TERM TO TRANSITION.

COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL EFFECT A GRADUAL

/HE THEN