TNAG-1355-FCO40-1796-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 8

GRS 1200

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

CONFIDENTIAL

TELNO 2318

OF 25050OZ OCTOBER 25

INFO IMMEDIATE PELING

НИКО

(227)

TOR COPY

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 5 OCT 1985

Į DEGISTRY

PA

DEŠK AHICER INDEX

GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

[Action Taken

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU OR PENING HAVE ON THE

REVISED DRAFT PARAGRAPHS WHICH FOLLOW. A REPLY BY 2601007 WOULD BE

HELPFUL AS WE GO TO PRINT SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.

''(1) INTRODUCTION

HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IT IS AN HONOUR FOR ME TO PRESIDE OVER THIS. THE FIRST MEETING

OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN ITS NEW CHAMBER. NOT ONLY HAS THE

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY ENLARGED BUT. FOR THE

FIRST TIME IN HONG TONG'S HISTORY. AN IMPORTANT PART OF ITS

MEMBERSHIP HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY INDIRECT ELECTION. THE OPENING OF

THE 1985/86 SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THUS MARIS ANOTHER

STEP IN THE STEADY EVOLUTION OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG

LONG.

2. THIS EVOLUTION HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS FOR SOME TIME. THE URBAN

COUNCIL HAS HAD ELECTED MEMBERS FOR MANY YEARS. IN 1983, THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS WAS INCREASED TO 15, THE FRANCHISE WAS GREATLY EXTENDED, AND MEMBERS WERE ELECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM DISTRICT CONSTITUENCIES. DISTRICT BOARDS, ESTABLISHED AS LONG AGO AS 1977,

FIRST HAD A PROPORTION OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP ELECTED IN 1982: THE ·

NUMBER OF ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WAS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED

EARLIER THIS YEAR. ELECTIONS FOR THE NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL BE

HELD IN MARCH NEXT YEAR. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THE GOVERNMENT

HAS LOOKED FOR PROGRESS COMBINED WITH STABILITY. IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. IN THIS FAST DEVELOPING WORLD. ALL SOCIETIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE: AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS MUST ADAPT TO MEET THE CHANGING REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOCIETIES WHICH ESTABLISHED THEM. AT THE SAME TIME, FULL WEIGHT MUST BE GIVEN TO THE NEED FOR STABILITY. HONG LONG IS SUCCESSFUL ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY BECUASE IT IS A STABLE SOCIETY. PROGRESS AND STABILITY MUST GO HAND IN HAND.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.