XN000022-1988-03-17 — Page 7

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1988

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APPEAL TO HELP MAKE SYSTEM WORK

THE WHITE PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES FOR A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WITH WHICH MOST OF THE COMMUNITY WILL AGREE OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, WITH WHICH THE COMMUNITY WILL NOT DISAGREE, THE HON THOMAS CLYDESDALE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

"ONCE THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGE OUTLINED IN THE WHITE PAPER HAS BEGUN, LET US ALL WORK TOGETHER WITH GOODWILL AND DEDICATION TO CARRY OUT SUCCESSFULLY THE TASK OF MOULDING A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL PROTECT AND PROMOTE OUR VITAL INTERESTS.

"IT IS CERTAINLY WITHIN OUR CAPACITY TO DO SO," HE SAID WHEN SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER.

THE TO

MR CLYDESDALE SAID THE POLICY DECISIONS SET OUT WERE CLOSELY IN LINE WITH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF HIS CONSTITUENCY ↑ HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IN THE CHAMBER'S SUBMISSION THE SURVEY OFFICE.

"IN PARTICULAR, THE DECISION то SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS AND TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS IN 1991 IS, I AM SURE, BOTH WISE AND HELPFUL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT FOR HONG KONG WHICH WILL PROVIDE BALANCED REPRESENTATION FOR ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY AND THE SOCIETY, HE SAID.

"

HAD

HE POINTED OUT THE CONSULTATION ON THE 1987 GREEN PAPER BEEN INTENSIVE, AND EXTENSIVE, NOT ONLY AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION BUT ALSO AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL.

"THIS INCLUDED, OF COURSE, THE GENERAL CHAMBER WHICH DID A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO OBTAIN, AS FAR AS WAS POSSIBLE, THE GENUINE VIEWS OF ITS MEMBERS ON THE MANY IMPORTANT, AND I MUST SAY SOME RELATIVELY UNIMPORTANT, ISSUES SET OUT IN THE GREEN PAPER, HE SAID.

"

A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE CHAMBER STUDIED THESE ISSUES CAREFULLY AND A DETAILED SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT TO OBTAIN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS' VIEWS AND THE RESULTS WERE FULLY PUBLISHED, TOGETHER WITH THE QUESTIONS, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ANSWERS.

"THE CHAMBER'S GENERAL COMMITTEE ENDORSED AND APPROVED THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY WHICH THEN FORMED THE BASIS OF A SUBMISSION TO THE SURVEY OFFICE,

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MR CLYDESDALE SAID THE CHAMBER'S MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTED DIVERSE ETHNIC, NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS; 70 PER CENT OF THE MEMBER COMPANIES WERE IN SERVICE INDUSTRIES AND 30 PER CENT IN MANUFACTURING: 70 PER CENT WERE HONG KONG-CHINESE OWNED AND AND 30 PER CENT REPRESENTED FORELON INTERESTS.

OPERATED

/"I BELIEVE