TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 81

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that this would enable authority to be firmly rooted in Hong

Kong. Functional groups should be given a certain number of

seats in the Executive and Legislative Councils so as to ensure

that, among Unofficial Members of these Councils, there are

experts from various fields. These Unofficial Members can help

solve different problems and difficulties as well as

maintaining the close relationship between the Government and

various academic, professional, industrial and commercial

groups. I believe that it would be much better if the

Councillors elected by the electoral college are members of the

latter. People can decide through voting whether a candidate

can enter a District Board, the Urban Council or Regional

Council, thus controlling his chance of entering the

Legislative Council. In this way, the candidate would be made

to be more accountable to the people of Hong Kong.

As regards direct elections, I would like the

organisations advocating this point to consider carefully whether they wish this to be carried out on a regional basis or on a territory-wide basis (single list), because the financial manpower and material resources required of the candidates under these two methods are different.

under severe competition for more votes, how can we avoid the

political parties or organizations which advocate "free lunch"

to alter Hong Kong's tax system and the capitalist economic

system.

Moreover,

The proposals contained in the Green Paper cover many aspects including returning the authority of administration to

the people, centralizing expertise of different fields, looking after the interests of foreign investors and the citizens of Hong Kong and maintaining social stability and prosperity. They deserve our careful consideration and support.

I hope other organizations and members of the public

will come forward to air their views. Sir, I support this

motion.