TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 183

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15.

This proposition will also be discussed in more detail

in a later chapter.

27.

The alternative possibility of introducing

direct, constituency-based elections to

to the Legislative

Council has been considered. Such a system is a

standard feature of democratic systems of government

elsewhere and affords the population at large the

opportunity to choose its representatives directly.

However, it would represent a radical change from Our

present system and could lead to the experience and

expertise available to our existing institutions being

lost when it is most needed. Clearly it is essential

that the stability and harmony of the community, which

has been built up over a long period, should be

preserved. Thus it is considered that the introduction

of direct elections to the Legislative Council would not

be appropriate at the present time, although in due

the political and

course,

as

constitutional

circumstances of Hong Kong evolve, further thought might

be given to this possibility, if popular support for the

idea develops later on.

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