2
A
However,
er, the road to such an ideal state is very slippery and it must therefore be trodden with great care and caution as history has shown many disappointing examples. government of demagogues is pernicious and a government of misguided democracy is a catastrophe. Therefore, it is of vital importance to build in the government system the powerful machinery of check and balance. For example, the United States of America has the Constitution, the Bills of Rights and the separation of the powers of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary so that a fair and accountable government may be ensured and the life and liberty of the people guaranteed.
In short, if we wish to introduce direct election into the central government, we should map out the ultimate shape and machinery of the democratic government and then formulate a planned programme for implementation, but not in a piece-meal or ad hoc fashion. This will take time but time is not with us. In the circumstances, would it not be a more sensible approach if the consideration and planning of the democratisation package be conducted as a separate exercise; and in the meantime let the evolutionary steps of the existing government system as proposed in the Green Paper be carried out without delay.
I wish to add a rider to the concept of democracy. truly democratic government draws all its source of power from its people alone and to whom alone it is accountable. Realistically, will Hong Kong be ever allowed to do so by the sovereign state concerned?
A
In conclusion, I support the aims and principle of the Green Paper. As to the proposals for implementation, details have yet to be worked out in many areas which my colleagues will surely deliberate on. I am in favour of a test run of the scheme and the fine tuning and re-adjustment are to be done in the reivew in 1989, if not earlier.
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