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THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) FIRST PRINCIPLE IS THAT THE FUTURE SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE ROOTED FIRMLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEREBY BE MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) SECOND PRINCIPLE IS THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE BASED, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, ON OUR EXISTING INSTITUTIONS AND SHOULD PRESERVE THEIR BEST FEATURES, INCLUDING THE WELL- ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSENSUS.
THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) THIRD PRINCIPLE IS THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE DEVELOPED GRADUALLY AND PROGRESSIVELY: AND THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) FOURTH PRINCIPLE IS THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD NOT PUT AT RISK THOSE FACTORS WHICH HAVE SECURED THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
11. THERE IS NO POINT IN HAVING PRINCIPLES WITHOUT A CLEAR IDEA AS TO THE OBJECTIVES TO BE PURSUED. IMMEDIATELY THERE ARE FOUR SUCH OBJECTIVES:
FIRST, TO PROVIDE FOR CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF SELECTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT IT IS BROADLY BASED, AND AVOIDS, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, ANY TENDENCY TO DIVISIVENESS. THIS IS BEST ACHIEVED BY ENSURING THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE MAJOR SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SECONDLY, TO PROVIDE FOR A PROPORTION OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO BE ELECTED INDIRECTLY BY BOTH GEOGRAPHICAL AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
THIRDLY, TO ACHIEVE A REASONABLE BALANCE OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BETWEEN OFFICIAL, APPOINTED AND ELECTED MEMBERS: AND
FOURTHLY, TO PROVIDE A FOUNDATION ON WHICH FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF SELECTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CAN BE BASED, IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED.
12. IN THE RATHER LONGER TERM THE APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES SHOULD ENABLE THREE OTHER OBJECTIVES TO BE REALISED:
FIRST, TO DECIDE UPON THE CHANGES WHICH SHOULD BE MADE IN THE COMPOSITION, METHOD OF SELECTION AND POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
SECONDLY, TO DETERMINE THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR IN RELATION TO THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS: AND
THIRDLY, HOW BEST TO MAKE THE EXECUTIVE ORGANS OF THE GOVERNMENT MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISL
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