XN000022-1992-11-11 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1992

MY

PROPOSALS HONG KONG STARTED

THE GOVERNOR HAS REPEATEDLY EMPHASISED, AS I POINTED OUT IN SPEECH IN THIS COUNCIL ON 14 OCTOBER THIS YEAR, THAT THESE WERE PUT FORWARD FOR CONSULTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF AND WITH CHINA. DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE WITH THE VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO PEKING LAST MONTH. I ENTIRELY AGREE ON THIS WITH MEMBERS THAT OUR DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

ONE REPEAT

POINT. THERE IS MUST MATTER

CONTINUE. BUT LET ME

MAKING A "SECRET ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT

KONG, DEAL" OVER THE HEADS OR BEHIND THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG AND IMPOSE IT ON THIS COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY,

CONTINUE TO EXPRESS

SOME

NATURE OF GIVEN THAT DOUBTS EXPRESSED BY SOME MEMBERS ON THE THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE, I THINK IT IS WORTH REPEATING THAT THE PRESENT WE ENCOURAGE MEMBERS, PACKAGE IS A SET OF PROPOSALS, NOT DECISIONS.

THEIR VIEWS ON THESE ΤΟ AND THE

THEM PROPOSALS. IF ANYBODY HAS OTHER SPECIFIC PROPOSALS, LET US HEAR

1 HOPE THAT SUCH A AND LET US DISCUSS THEM LOGICALLY AND RATIONALLY.

NOT A IT IS DEFINITELY FOR REQUEST

PROPOSALS IS TAKEN POSITIVELY,

THREAT.

INTIMIDATION BUT HAVE HEARD RUMOURS AND ALLEGATIONS OF I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT ANYONE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS THE CULPRIT. 1 AM ENCOURAGED THAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE

I AGREE WITH SOME IDEAS EMERGING FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WHO HAVE MADE THE POINT THAT THE TIME FOR A FINAL DECISION IS NOT YET TAKE PLACE IN THE WITH US.

MORE DISCUSSION WILL NO DOUBT MUCH COMMUNITY, AND IN THIS CHAMBER BEFORE THAT TIME COMES. BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE WELL DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN 1994 AND THEIR ENABLING LEGISLATION HAVE TO BE IN PLACE MUCH EARLIER, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO

WE DO ADOPT THE GREEN PAPER FOLLOWED BY THE WHITE PAPER PROCESS.

IT IS THEREFORE ALL THE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME. IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS NOW.

MEMBERS

UNFORTUNATELY BEFORE THE

WOULD

COUNCIL,

NOT

MORE

BY

ADVISE MEMBERS

OUR CURRENT INTENTION IS TO INTRODUCE INTO THIS EARLY NEXT YEAR, LEGISLATION ON THE PRECISE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO 1994-95 ELECTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS REASSURE MR NGAI THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE ASKED TO ON THESE PROPOSALS BEFORE THEY ARE PRESENTED TO THIS COUNCIL. OF THIS COUNCIL WILL THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES

OF WHETHER

ASPIRATIONS THESE PROPOSALS

REFLECT THE TRULY COMMUNITY, AND WHETHER THEY SERVE THE LONG-TERM INTEREST OF HONG KONG.

THE

CLEAR, WE

FOR

WHO WILL

MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT, AS THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO MADE INTEND TO BE FRANK AND TO BE OPEN WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IT IS THEIR FUTURE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, AND IT IS THEY

CLEARLY, WE OF OUR DECISIONS,

ALL ATTACH BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES

AND AFTER IMPORTANCE TO CONVERGENCE OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM BEFORE

WRONG TO 1997; I ENTIRELY AGREE WITH MR BARROW AND MR IP THAT IT IS

TRRECONCILABLE OPPOSITES. ASSUME THAT CONVERGENCE AND DEMOCRACY ARE MR BARROW IS RIGHT THAT CONVERGENCE IS NOT A ONE-SIDED PROCESS. ULTIMATE TEST IS

ARE OPEN, WHETHER SUCH ARRANGEMENTS ACCEPTABLE ΤΟ THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THERE CAN BE NO QUALIFYING THAT ACCEPTABILITY WHICH IS, AS I SAID, VERY BOTTOM LINE. FOR THAT REASON, EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT

PUI-CHUNG'S CHIM

MR

AMENDMENT.

THANK

THE FAIR AND QUESTION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S

YOU,

MR

DEPUTY

PRESIDENT.

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