TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 88

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As to when direct election should be introduced,

we shall have to wait and see how things turn out because

such election is new to Hong Kong.

Thus, I suggest the

situation be reviewed annually as from 1986, so as to

determine the earliest time suitable for the implementation of

direct election.

In my opinion, direct election should be

implemented at a later stage, because to ensure a sound

In

Little

election, the people must be civic-minded, they should

understand the system of the government, their rights and

obligations, and know they must not be used as political weapons (not the same as political capital) by others.

the meantime, we must educate the people more. The Government

would take care of education on administrative system in

schools, but we should not overlook education of the general

public. At present, apart from encouraging them to register

as voters and cast their vote, the Government only launch

campaigns like "Clean Hong Kong" and "Fight Crime".

effort has been made to promote democratic education. Hence.

the people know very little about the Government.

can they support the Government?

Education of the people on a long-term basis should be

implemented without delay. This is what the Honourable

Members, social workers and scholars are doing, trying very

hard to organise seminars and talks among residents so as to

make the residents understand the Green Paper on Representative

Government and be aware of its profound significance.

How then

Now the times have changed.

/p. 5