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be run
improvement. He did not believe a contributory scheme could
in tandem with the present non-contributory scheme. One would have to be phased out. He did ask others to examine their consciences as to whether this would be desirable
as a
means of improving the welfare for 4 million people in Hong Kong or to make the scheme look better in the UK.
GR said there was not much ideology here but he looked for more
progress.
on
MM said he was anxious not to injure the present scheme which is working before he was sure another scheme really would work. For instance, under the Japanese scheme it would take 30 years' contributions to bring the benefits now available to anyone the non-contributory public assistance in Hong Kong. scheme was really aiming at a higher income bracket. Smith asked for a period longer than three weeks to look at
the estimates.
Heppfe's
If the
GR said that a longer period would mean less detail. period could be extended without blurring the content, he hoped
this would be tackled.
DEMOCRACY
GR confirmed interest in the wider based Legislative Council.
He wondered whether the He would like this to proceed further.
come
a
farce.
time had
Advisory to extend the elected status of district boards. This would be less urgent if participation was already
There is a limited election in happening, e.g. in the MAC's. the Urban Council. MM said that these elections were There was no public interest and members were not representative Someone like Y.K. Kan would and not regarded as representative. be regarded as far more representative than the more recently elected Urban Councillors. District Councils in the New Terri- tories will have an elected element for village representatives were elected by villagers in their traditional way and chairmen of rural committees were elected by village representatives. GR said he was all for extension of democracy resting on votes but he could see how participation could happen in other ways, as has happened in many parts of Africa. If meaningful participation were supplemented by an independent press and an independent
to be real, this can judiciary and if participation could be seen amount to good democracy. Hong Kong was by no means deficient.
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