XN000022-1990-10-10 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1990

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FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN DEVELOPMENT OF GOVT SYSTEM

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT YEAR WILL BR A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S SYSTEM GOVERNMENT.

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SIR DAVID TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT

OUR SYSTEM GOVERNMENT WAS A PRODUCT OF OUR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES: OUR STATUS AS NON-SOVEREIGN TERRITORY; OUR SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA: THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR ECONOMY; AND THE INCREASING POLITICAL AWARENESS OF

OUR POPULATION.

"OUR SYSTEM HAS EVOLVED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS AND POSITION OF HONG KONG. THE NEXT STAGE IN THIS EVOLUTION WILL BE THREE SETS OF ELECTIONS IN 1991,' HE SAID.

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"IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY RESPOND POSITIVELY. WE NEED CANDIDATES OF HIGH CALIBRE, REPRESENTING A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS.

"TAKING PART IN ELECTIONS MEANS BEING PREPARED NOT JUST TO WIN, BUT TO LOSE AS WELL. THERE IS NO DISHONOUR IN THAT, HE SAID.

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APPEALING THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHT TO VOTE, SIR DAVID SAID: "THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR FULL AND PROPER CONTRIBUTION TO SHAPING HONG KONG'S FUTURE ONLY IF THEY ACCEPT A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENTHUSIASTIC AND WELL-INFORMED PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS," THE GOVERNOR SAID.

SIR DAVID

NOTED THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE STILL UNINTERESTED POLITICS AND PREFERRED TO BE LEFT TO GET ON WITH WHAT THEY DID BEST HELPING THEIR FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE A BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING.

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"THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL IN THIS, NOR IS IT UNIQUE TO HONG KONG. BUT WE MUST ENCOURAGE SUCH PEOPLE WE MUST ENCOURAGE ALL

OP OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO WILL SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF.

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"EQUALLY, OUR POLITICIANS MUST BE PREPARED TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE RRALLY THINK NOT JUST THOSE WHO MAKE THEIR PRESence felT, BUT ·

THE THOSE WHO KEEP QUIET AS WELL AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP WHICH MEETS OVERALL NEEDS OF HONG KONG," HE SAID.

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SIR

DAVID SAID BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, THE COMPOSITION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT,

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"OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP WILL BE REDUCED TO THE THREE EX OFFICIO MEMBERS. THERE WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL ELECTED MAJORITY.

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"THE COMMUNITY WILL LOOK TO MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL TO PLAY GREATER PART IN THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. THIS IS A NATURAL AND WELCOME DEVELOPMENT.

/"INEVITABLY, THESE