TNAG-1372-FCO40-1818-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 12

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system

firmly

3. The aim of the proposals was to develop progressively a

of

government, the authority for which would be

rooted in Hong Kong, which would represent authoritatively the views of the people of the territory

and which would be more directly accountable to the people

of Hong Kong. In preparing the White Paper, the Hong Kong

Government recognised the need to keep in mind the

provisions of the agreement on the future of the territory.

Publication of the White Paper was preceded by a two month

period of public consultation during which the Government

received a wide range of, mainly favourable, comment

aims of the Paper. The need to preserve the prosperity and

stability of the territory by ensuring that constitutional

change whilst progressive was also gradual, was widely

recognised and the proposals were

the proposals were considered by many people

to be a realistic and practical framework for the

development

representative government at the central

level.

of

on

the

4.

The

White Paper was approved by the Legislative

Council (LEGCO) in January of this year.

5.

The elections to LEGCO, held on 26 September, went off

well if predictably. Media attention was considerable and

public interest encouraging.

The majority of the

candidates returned were members of the professional

classes, all well-known

community service. Turnout varied from almost 100% in the

electoral college to a lowest turnout of 45% in one of the

functional constituencies for the industrial sector.

The Hong Kong Government's polling arrangements appear

have been executed smoothly and without hitch.

figures and experienced in

two

6.

to

The 198, review will consider possible further

developments in the composition and method of selection of

members of LEGCO and Executive Council (EXCO) in 1988 and

beyond, the question of direct elections and the position

of the Governor in relation to EXCO and LEGCO.