XN000022-1989-06-01 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1989

8

HK NOT READY FOR FASTER PACE FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS

HONG KONG IS NOT YET READY FOR A FASTER PACE FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS, THE HON NELLIE FONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

"I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT HONG KONG'S BEST INTERESTS WOULD BE SERVED IF WE PRESERVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND WITH IT PRESERVE

SHE SAID DURING THE SBCOND DAY STABILITY AND FOSTER PROSPERITY,

THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE DRAFT BASIC LAW.

SAID MRS FONG

OF

BE

OR SOCIAL

POLITICAL WHAT INDIVIDUALS IN HONG

THE TO

MOVEMENT, THE PUT AT THE

THAT NO MATTER WHAT MOVEMENTS OCCURRED IN CHINA AND NO MATTER

SUPPORT OR KONG MIGHT WISH TO DO TO

OBJECT PRESERVATION OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES MUST FOREFRONT.

ITS PEOPLE

AND THEIR

SHE EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR HONG KONG TO HAVE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE THAT TRULY REPRESENTED INTERESTS.

HONG KONG MUST THEREFORE HAVE AN ELECTION PROCESS THAT MADR CERTAIN THAT A GOOD CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY WAS REPRESENTED IN THE LEGISLATURE. THIS WOULD

NECESSARILY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH DIRECT ELECTIONS, SHE ADDED.

NOT

OF A "IN MY OPINION, THE METHOD THROUGH WHICH THIS AIM

THROUGH THE USE REPRESENTATIVE LEGISLATURE COULD BE ACHIEVED IS FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES," SHE SAID.

TRULY OF

AND TRUE AT THE

MRS FONG SAID SHE DID NOT OPPOSE DIRECT ELECTIONS IN PRINCIPLE,

A FAIR BUT SHE WAS CONVINCED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PRODUCE REPRESENTATION OF THE OPINIONS AND THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG PRESENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT.

DIRECT THAT

RESULTS

WHICH

"I SAY

ELECTIONS WOULD NOT PRODUCE A TRUE

ANALYSIS OF THE REPRESENTATION AFTER HAVING MADE A CAREFUL OF OUR LAST URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, BOTH OF CONTAINED ELEMENTS OF DIRECT ELECTIONS," SHE SAID.

BETWEEN

SHE NOTED THAT A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH PERCENTAGE 50 AND 80 PER CENT OF THE SUCCESSFULLY DIRECTLY ELECTED CANDIDATES CAME FROM THREE BACKGROUNDS: LAWYERS, ACADEMICS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.

-

"WHILE I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THESE THREE PROFESSIONS, I DO NOT CONSIDER THAT A LEGISLATURE COMPOSED MAINLY OF THESE PROFESSIONS

SHE SAID. IS ADEQUATELY REPRESENTATIVE OF HONG KONG'S INTERESTS,

SAID

TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF THE SAR CHIEF DIRECT ELECTIONS COULD NOT BE EASILY

SELECTION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

MRS EXECUTIVE,

FONG INTRODUCED FOR THE

/THE CHIEF