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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON W C L BROWN, OBE,
ON UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S MOTION LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 2.8.84
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JP
Sir,
It is perhaps worthwhile to keep reminding ourselves that we are debating a Green Paper, and that the whole purpose of presenting proposals in this manner is to enable people to express opinions as to their acceptability before matters proceed further.
I am a cautious man and by instinct I like to proceed slowly; however I have an open mind regarding these proposals, and I am studying with sincere interest the community's reaction to them. We should all continue to do so, for the further development of representative Government in Hong Kong will only succeed if the community as a whole is satisfied that the proposals will fulfil their aspirations.
Whatever system is put in place, quite clearly it must also result in a form of Government that can not only ensure stability and prosperity upto 1997, but also be in a form that will facilitate a smooth return of sovereignty to China in that year. We must not lose sight of that important long term objective, and in this context I note that we have the reassurance of the Secretary for District Administration, who said recently during a television programme that the proposals were compatible with Chinese thinking on the future development of Hong Kong. I am sure he is correct in his assessment.
Others are making comments on the actual proposals, but I would like this afternoon to make two observations in regard to the electorate itself, and the candidates who will be called upon to serve in our Councils, either through election or nomination. However good a representative system may appear in theory, it simply will not work unless the electorate plays its part through participating in elections. The people of Hong Kong are often described as its only natural resource.
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