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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON CHAN KAM CHUEN, OBE, JP ON UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S MOTION
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 2.8.84
Sir,
The Green Paper on "The Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong" is a step in the right
direction, although how big a step should be taken and at what
time are subjects of great controversy. However, with careful
monitoring and modification from time to time it would hopefully achieve the objectives of further democratization and ensure a smooth political transition from its implementation to 1st July 1997 when "Hong Kong people will govern Hong Kong" and this colony would turn into a Special Administrative Zone and revert to China.
The vocal minority has clamoured aloud for direct elections as though this is the only way to achieve democracy.
They would be surprised to find that one of the greatest western
democracies, the United States of America, used the electoral
college system to ensure the indirect election of presidents and
the senate. As long as it is democratic, direct elections and
elections though an electoral college are just
i.e. both roads lead to the same destination.
),
As to democracy, there are many brands and when someone from a totalitarian country says you that there is democracy in his country, he may not be lying as there are two main streams of democracy, namely the totalitarian democracy and constitutional democracy. Although their values and standards are like poles apart, revisionists in post-war years have drawn their differences
a little closer. For serious students in politics, they are well advised to seize every opportunity to attend seminars etc. given. by professors and lecturers in political science to find out the differences and philosophies in the various types of constitutional democracy, e.g. direct democracy, representative democracy, liberal or constitutional democracy and social or economic democracy.
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