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Repres tative Government in Hong Kong published on 21
November 1984, the Hong Kong Government took full account
of public comment in Hong Kong on the proposals contained
in the earlier Green Paper. During the two months
allowed for discussion of these proposals,
the Hong Kong
Government received comments from a wide range of
sources. These comments were generally in favour of the
aims of the Green Paper and the gradual and progressive
nature of the proposals made in it.
On the question of indirect and direct elections, the
Hong Kong Government noted the substantial support for
direct elections from some sections of the community who
made their views public. However there was little
evidence of general support for any move towards direct
elections as early as 1985. Consequently the White
Paper, which outlined the Government's intentions for the
1985 elections to the Legislative Council only, retained
the Green Paper proposals for indirect elections through
an electoral college and functional constituencies.
response to the views expressed by the public, however,
the White Paper doubled the number of members to be
elected on this basis in 1985.
In
The general review proposed for 1989 in the Green Paper
has been brought forward to 1987 SO that the issues
raised in the Green Paper, including direct elections,
be considered before the 1988 elections. While I
cannot anticipate the outcome of that review in any way,
it will provide an occasion for a further full
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