TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 60

2 -

views that it is of vital importance that the stability of Hong Kong must be ensured both before and after 1997 and to achieve this overall objective, it will be advisable to adopt recommendations for progressive development and gradual changes, because ultimately our aim is for Hong Kong to be able to remain stable, prosperous and in a healthy financial state both before and after 1997. Therefore indirect election to the Legislative Council in the initial stage is a cautious and yet progressive approach to be adopted. Although direct election may have to be considered some time in future, the correct timing must be when the silent majority have been educated to be more civic-minded and politically responsible.

Sir, the major objective of any responsible Government in this world must be to develop a system of administration and to adopt a set of policies which will have the desirable effect of stimulating and guiding the community to progress and prosper with a minimal degree of internal strife and turbulence.

Towards this end, Hong Kong can be proud of our

achievements for the past three decades. We have achieved a world acclaimed status economically through a system of representative Government unique only to Hong Kong whilst adopting at the same time a set of policies ably suited to our circumstances. Though our system of Government cannot be defined as democractic in the narrow sense that our legislators

and key policy makers were not elected by popular vote, yet our system of Government and our policies have guided Hong Kong to progress to such an extent that we have become the envy of citizens of many countries in this world. Our Government was

concientious and effective in solving a great number of macro

structural problems of our society. Within the confines of our resources and within just two decades we must rank first in the world for having progressed so well in the areas of public

housing, education, public health, providing a safety net for the needy, public transport infrastructural facilities etc.

It

Page 60Page 61