XN000022-1987-07-16 — Page 21

20

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1987

"SINCE THE PRESIDENCY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS OF SUCH OREAT SIGNIFICANCE, CAREFUL CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGE, AND NO DECISION

BE MADE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME," HE SAID.

SHOULD

TURNING TO THE SYSTEM OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, HE SAID THE THREE-TIER STRUCTURE HAD BEEN SERVING HONG KONG WELL, AND THERE WAS NO URGENT NEED TO MAKE ANY MAJOR CHANGE TO THIS STRUCTURE.

HE SAID THE AUTHORITIES BEGINNING THAT DISTRICT

HAD ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR AT THE BOARDS WERE PRIMARILY ADVISORY BODIES ON

DISTRICT MATTERS.

"ANY CHANGE OR

WIDENING OF THEIR TERMS

OF REFERENCE WILL

AFFECT THE ENTIRE THREE-TIER STRUCTURE AND THE CENTRAL LEGISLATURE WILL LIKEWISE BE AFFECTED.

"SUCH CHANGE WOULD NOT BE BENEFICIAL TO THE EFFICIENCY OF HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATION, HE STRESSED.

REGARDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, HE FELT THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO CHANGE THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT UNDER WHICH ALL ELECTED MEMBERS WERE RX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF A DISTRICT BOARD, NOR SHOULD THERE BE ANY CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF SEATS ON THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE STRUCTURE OF ITS COMMITTEES SO AS TO MAINTAIN ITS TOTALITY AND INDEPENDENCE.

RESERVATIONS ON DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988

DIRECT ELECTIONS

PROFESSOR THE HON C.K. POON SAID HE SUPPORTS BUT HAS SOME RESERVATIONS REGARDING ITS HASTY INTRODUCTION IN 1988.

IN THE LEGISLATIVE SPEAKING ON THE MOTION ON THE GREEN PAPER

WAS AN COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY), PROFESSOR POON SAID DIRECT ELECTION

MAN EXERCISED HIS INALIENABLE EXPRESSION OF AN IDEAL WHEREBY EVERY RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT HE DESIRED.

ALL STRIVE FOR AND WORK TOWARDS. "IT IS AN IDEAL WHICH WE

KONG IS READY TO IMPLEMENT HOWEVER, THE KEY ISSUE IS WHETHER HONG DIRECT ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

/"I BELIEVE