XN000022-1990-03-01 — Page 5

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1990

NEVERTHELESS, THIS DID NOT MEAN HONG KONG SHOULD NOT CONTINUE ITS BID FOR DEMOCRACY, BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT ΤΟ BALANCE OUR DESIRE WITH REALITY.

BECAUSE THE FREEDOM AND

MR ARCULLI SAID IT WOULD BE FUNDAMENTALLY UNSOUND ΤΟ COMPARE THE QUEST OF HONG KONG WITII THAT OF EASTERN EUROPE EASTERN BLOC'S CAUSE WAS FOUNDED NOT ONLY ON A LOVE OF DEMOCRACY BUT ALSO ON THEIR ECONOMIC PLIGHT.

WAY.

"HONG KONG HAS A LOT TO LOSE IF WE TIP THE BALANCE ONE WRONG STEP MAY COST US DEARLY.

THE WRONG

"IN THIS CONTEXT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THE LESSON TO BE LEARNT FROM ALL THIS IS SIMPLY THAT WE IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN MASTERS OF COMPROMISES IN OUR DEALINGS WITH CHINA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE HAVE HAD ΤΟ ALTER AND ADAPT TO SURVIVE AND BE SUCCESSFUL. WE CAN DO IT AGAIN" HE SAID.

MR ARCULLI POINTED OUT THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE WAS THE FIRST AND GIANT STEP TOWARDS A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, BUT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT THE FIRST DIRECT POLLS WOULD NOT END UP AS A FAILURE OR A FARCE.

OF

THE FIRST THING WAS то DECIDE.. UPON THE NUMBER CONSTITUENCIES AND THEIR BOUNDARIES BECAUSE DIFFERENT METHODS OF DIVIDING HONG KONG FOR ELECTION PURPOSES COULD BRING ABOUT DIFFERENT POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.

"A BALANCE SHOULD BE STRUCK ΤΟ AVOID GERRYMANDERING BY THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WOULD BE ABLE TO REFLECT VIEWS OF HIS CONSTITUENTS AND ТАКЕ INTO ACCOUNT HONG KONG'S INTERESTS AS A WHOLE WHEN MAKING DECISIONS, HE SAID.

TT

MR ARCULLI NOTED THAT THE BASIC LAW PROPOSED TO RETAIN FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES IN THE FUTURE SAR LEGISLATURE FOR A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE SAR ADMINISTRATION SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS BE HELD DEMOCRATICALLY AND THAT SECTOR INTERESTS, BE THEY PROFESSIONAL PROTECTIONISM OR TRADE UNIONISM, SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED.

MR ARCULLI ALSO REFERRED TO MONEY.

HE BELIEVED THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE POTENTIAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND STAND FOR LEGCO DIRECT ELECTIONS BY GRANTING FUTURE CANDIDATES A SUBSIDY, SET AT A REALISTIC LEVEL, FOR RUNNING CAMPAIGNS.

IT SHOULD BE PAYABLE TO A CANDIDATE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIЯ ACCORDING TO ACTUAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED DURING THE CAMPAIGN, HE SAID.

SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD HELP SUBSTANTIALLY IN REMOVING ANY CRITICISM THAT THE RICH HAD AN EDGE OVER THE NOT SO WELL-OFF PUBLIC ELECTIONS.

IN

/HE ALSO