TNAG-1351-FCO40-1792-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 140

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Introduction

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY

(SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE) IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 9 JANUARY 1985

Sir, I rise to move the motion standing in my name on the Order Paper: "That this Council welcomes the plans and intentions described in the White Paper Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong."

OB

the Further

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When the White Paper was laid on 21 November last year, you yourself, Sir, outlined the Government's plans for the further development of representative government in Hong Kong. But I think it would be helpful to remind Members, at the outset of this debate, of our objectives and the principles upon which the proposals in the Green Paper were worked up and then amended when fioalising the plans set out in the White Paper.

Objectives

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Our objectives can be stated quite simply. They are, first, that the future system of representative government in Hong Kong should be rooted firmly in the community and thereby be directly accountable to the people of Hong Kong. The second objective is to provide for changes in the composition and method of selection of the Legislative Council which will ensure that it is broadly based, and which will minimise any tendency to Factional politics and divisiveness. The third objective is to provide a foundation for further developments in the composition and method of selection of the Legislative Council, in the light of experience gained.

Principles

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To achieve these objectives the plans in the White Paper have been based on four principles. The first principla borne in mind was that the system should be based, as far as possible, on our existing institutions and should proservo their best features, including the well-established practice of government by consensus. The second principle borne in mind wae that the aystem should be developed gradually and progressively, The third principle borne in mind was that a reasonable balance should be struck in the membership of the Legislative Council between elected, appointed and official members. And the fourth principle borne in mind -.and vory much so - that the more representative system should not put at Tisk those factors which have secured the social stability and economic prosperity of Hong Kong.