XN000022-1988-03-17 — Page 18

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1988

HE ALSO SAID HE WAS AGAINST PRODUCTION

OF THE DOCUMENT "FOR

THE SOLE PURPOSE OF CONVERGENCE WITH THE BASIC LAW".

MR PANG NOTED THAT THE WHITE PAPER RULED OUT INTRODUCTION OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN LEGCO THIS YEAR ON THE GROUND THAT PUBLIC OPINION ON THE ISSUE OF TIMING WAS DIVIDED.

FURTHERMORE, THE KHITE PAPER HAD NOTHING TO SAY ON THE

COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID.

MR PANG ALSO NOTED THAT ALL DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS WOULD RETAIN ONE-THIRD OF THEIR SEATS FOR APPOINTED MEMBERS; AND THAT THE LEGCO ELECTORAL COLLEGE SEATS FOR DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BE ABOLISHED AND BE REPLACED BY 10 GEOGRAPHICALLY-BASED SEATS RETURNED THROUGH DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1991.

"THE WHITE PAPER ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE 14 SEATS FOR THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES; ONE SEAT RACH FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL; APPOINTED SEATS AND 10 SEATS FOR OFFICICAL MEMBERS, HE SAID.

20

"IN OTHER WORDS, THE GOVERNMENT MAY STILL HAVE CONTROL OVER THE MAJORITY OF SEATS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UNTIL 1994.

TIME,

"THIS IS BY NO MEANS A PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT. IT IS MARKING HAVING NO ADVANCEMENT AT ALL."

申

MR PANG ADDED THAT IN VIEW OF THESE PLANS AND PROPOSALS THE WHITE PAPER WAS DISAPPOINTING.

WISE TO ADOPT CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO CHANGE

EVOLVE GRADUALLY

POLITICAL REFORM NEEDS TO

FROM THE UNIQUE REFORM SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN SERVING HONG KONG SO WELL AND THE PACE OF

STABILITY AND SHOULD NOT BE FORCED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TERRITORY'S PROSPERITY, PROF THE HON POON COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE

IN THE LEGISLATIVE

SAID CHUNG-KWONG

DEBATE ON THE WHITE

PAPER ON THE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, PROF POON SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO SEE

APPROACH IN EFFECTING DOCUMENT HAD ADOPTED A CAUTIOUS

CHANGES AND THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN 1991.

SEVERAL OPINION POLLS CONDUCTED SOON AFTER THE THE WHITE PAPER SHOWED A CLEAR MAJORITY SUPPORT NOTED.

FOR

PUBLICATION THIS MOVE,

OF

НЕ

"NO POLITICAL