TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 28

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(B) THERE ARE, AS THE CHINESE SIDE WILL BE AWARE, GROWING DEMANDS FOR A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERMENT WHICH WOULD GIVE ORDINARY PEOPLE A MORE DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOME CHANGES DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO THESE PRESSURES (D.G. THE URBAN COUNCIL REFORMS OF 1973, THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME AND THE RECENT PROPOSAL FOR AN

ADDITIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL).

(C) BUT IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC WISH THAT THIS PROCESS BE CARRIED FURTHER AND THAT AN ELECTIVE PROCESS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED AND PROGRESSIVELY EXTENDED TO THE HIGHER ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.

(D) THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE WAYS OF RESPONDINGM FOR EXAMPLE THE ELECTIVE PROCESS MIGHT BE BASED NOT ONLY ON GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES BUT ALSO FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. EACH STAGE OF THE REFORMS WILL BE THOUGHT OUT CAREFULLY AND INTRODUCED GRADUALLY.

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