XN000022-1987-10-07 — Page 55

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987

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GOVERNMENT CHANGES EVOLUTIONARY, NOT REVOLUTIONARY

THE PROCESS OF CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN EVOLUTIONARY, NOT REVOLUTIONARY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"WE HAVE TAKEN CARE AT EACH STEP TO REFLECT AND CONSULT BEFORE DECIDING ON THE NEXT ONE," HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSTANT CONCERN WAS TO ACT IN THE OVERALL INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. "THIS MEANS, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, MAINTAINING A FRAMEWORK OF SOUND ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS STABLE AND RELIABLE AND YET REMAINS RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF SOCIETY, HE ADDED.

SIR

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DAVID SAID ANOTHER ROUND OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON DEVELOPING VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED AND IMPORTANT DECISIONS WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN OVER THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS ON WHAT CHANGES IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO MAKE IN 1988.

COMMITTED ΤΟ IN THE SURVEY OFFICE

"IN REACHING THOSE DECISIONS, THE GOVERNMENT ARE TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF ALL THE VIEWS RECORDED REPORT.

"WE WILL, NATURALLY, ALSO GIVE FULL REGARD TO OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS, INCLUDING THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ANY CHANGES WHICH MIGHT BE INTRODUCED DO NOT DISRUPT THE STEADY PROGRESS WB HAVE BEEN MAKING, NOR THE STABILITY WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.

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BY IN

SIR DAVID SAID THE MORE THAN 130,000 SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED THE SURVEY OFFICE WAS EVIDENCE OF THE INTEREST WHICH THE ISSUES THE GREEN PAPER, AND IN PARTICULAR THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING SOME ELEMENT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THIS COUNCIL, HAD AROUSED AMONGST MANY IN THE COMMUNITY.

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