(C) CHINESE SENSITIVITIES MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. AT THE SAME TIME CHECKS AND BALANCES MUST BE BUILD IN TO MINIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHINESE INTERFERENCE.
(D) THE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION TAKING PART IN ELECTNIS IS STILL SMALL: AND MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO ELECTION OUTSIDE THEIR SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROUP. UNTIL HONG KONG HIS GAINED GREATER EXPERIENCE AND PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE ELECTIVE PROCESS, DIRECT ELECTIONS BASED ON UNIVERSAL ADULT SUFFRAGE WOULD BE LIKELY TO PRODUCE DISTORTED REPRESENTATIONAL STUCTURES. TO ENSURE THAT ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY WERE FAIRLY REPRESENTED, THE CONSTITUENCIES WOULD NEED TO BE FUNCTITNALLY AS WELL AS TERRITORIALLY BASED.
(E) POWER MUST BE DIFFUSED TO PREVENT DOMINATION AND MANIPULATION BY ANY PARTICULAR INTEREST GROUP.
13. IN CONSEQUENCE IT WILL NOT BE PRACTICABLE TO MOVE RAPIDLY AND DIRECTLY TO A FULL SCALE PARLIAMENTARY AND GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM ON THE U.K. MODEL. IN ANY CASE, THE EXACT FORM OF THE FINAL STRUCTURE WITH WHICH HONG KONG SHOULD MAKE THE TRANSITION IN 1997 SHOULD BE FOR THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY TO DECIDE. WHILE THEREFORE PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE SHOULD ALLOW FOR PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT TOWARDS A FULLY ELECTIVE SYSTEM THEY SHOULD NOT NOW
DECREE IT.
PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE
PROPOSALS ALREADY BEING CONSIDERED
:4. A REVIEW OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM IS ALREADY IN PROGRESS. THE REVIEW IS CONSIDERING WHETHER THE DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BECOME BY STAGES ENTIRELY ELECTED AND IN WHAT
AREAS THEY MIGHT BE GIVEN LOCAL EXECUTIVE POWERS. IT IS ALSO
CONSIDERING THE EXTENSION OF THE ELECTIVE SYSTEM AT THE URBAN COUNCIL LEVEL TO THE REST OF THE TERRITORY THROUGH THE ESTAB- LISHMENT OF A SECOND REGIONAL COUNCIL WITH AT LEAST HALF ITS MEMBERS ELECTED BY DIRECT FRANCHISE. THIS WOULD CREATE A CONSTITUENCY BASED ELECTIVE SYSTEM AT BOTH DISTRICT BOARD AND REGIONAL COUNCIL (URBAN COUNCIL) LEVEL THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL BE CONSULTED ON THIS SCHEME IN JANUARY 1984 AND, SUBJECT TO THEIR ADVICE CHANGES COULD BE INTRODUCED AT THE TIME OF THE NEXT DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN 1985 AND THE NEXT URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN 1986.
THE NEXT STEPS
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
15. FOR THE REASONS GIVEN IN PARAGRAPH 11 ABOVE, TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NOT BE A PRACTICAL OPTION. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COULD HOWEVER BE GENERATED IN PART THROUGH ELECTIONS BY AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE OF DISTRICT BOARD AND REGIONAL COUNCIL
4 SECRET
/MEMBERS:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.