TNAG-0523-FCO40-618-Visits-of-members-of-Urban-Council-from-Hong-Kong--to-UK-1975 — Page 168

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with a few notable

exceptions

we know that the British Government has always preferred to listen to a handful of businessmen here and pretend that that is public opinion. MP have always left Kong Kong, praising the Government and covering over the injustices of Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Government too could hold a referendum, but it is a foregone conclusion that the business-controlled Hong Kong Government will never do that.

I believe that the only alternative, if the Government in London will not take responsibility, is for the people here to hold their own referendum. This referendum would ask the people to decide whether they want the Government to remain exactly as it is, or whether they want elected representation on the Legislative Council and a fully elected kunicipal or City Council.

A referendum requires preparation. It appears that in some neighbouring countries, the people are asked to vote in a referendum without any clear choices and without knowing what is involved in the issue. Therefore I suggest that education is necessary to explain clearly to all the community what are the issues involved. believe that a crash education along these lines is necessary:

1. To show the injustices resulting from lack of representation

I

the unequal job opportunities and failure to localise through lack of Chinese

representation on the Council;

Taxation and financial matters

we do not choose our priorities, with the result that business projects are backed before education, housing; taxation is unfair to the poor and easy on the rich;

injustices in court and failure to tackle crime result from ignorance in high places; corruption of power results in lack of civic rights for the community;

policies and practices are unethical or unjust through lack of communication or

representation.

2. To show how representation can eliminate some injustices

is that

The principle XXX justice, rights and fair policies can only come with representation, making the Government responsible to the people who elect then. It is not a panacea for all ills, but is a system of checks and balances, t ensure that there is a way of appeal against gross injustice a way that does not at present exist.

3. The for of Government advocated

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Hay begin slowly or quickly half unofficials elected first and then the other half or sin at all wofficials being elected first.

Officials will still be members of the Legislative Council, but they will then have an opposition to unfair policies, instead of a gallery of yes-nes.

Show the need to have all members of the Urban Council elected, and with wider

povers.

Only after educating the community on what representation can do for then, and on the extent to which representation is requested, only then can peoplo vote in a referendum intelligently. Once the referendum as decided, this should be acted upon, whether the result is a continuation of the present government or whether it is for the change proposed.

For more than a century, the Hong Kong Government, the British Government and the Government-backed press and businessmen ave been saying that there is "no great demand" for representative Government in Hong Kong. Lord Goronwy Roberts has promised to act on public opinion. It is now up to us to prove wint the community wants and that is why I propose a referendum at the earliest possible moment, as soon as we have educated the public on what that would involve.

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