TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 39

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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TRANSLATION

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON. WONG LAM, OBE, JP

ON UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S MOTION LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 2.8.84

To cope with the new political circumstances and changes prevailing now and after 1997, it is apparent that certain changes to the present system of government should be introduced. In this respect, the Green Paper can be regarded

as a significant forward stride.

Though the Green Paper does not elaborate on some specific points it clearly spells out the changes required as far as principles are concerned. What I am going to discuss today also centres on matters of principles and will only make brief reference to the specific points.

One of the main aims of the proposals in the Green Paper is to develop a new system of government, the authority for which is firmly rooted in Hong Kong, which is able to represent the views of the people of Hong Kong and is

accountable to the people of Hong Kong in a better way. In

principle, there is nothing wrong with this aim. However, opinions differ as to how it may be attained. Some people think that direct election to elect able and virtuous people to

the Legislative and Executive Councils should be introduced as soon as possible while others favour indirect election as mentioned in the Green Paper. It is over this point that views

are divided.

I would suggest that in considering the merits of direct election vis-a-vis indirect election, we should not have

preconceived ideas before seeking justifications to substantiate them. On the contrary, we should analyse the present objective factors in a cool-headed way before coming to

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