TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 196

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14.

We should save expenditure by streamlining and

simplifying the institutions of the government and

improving efficiency.

From policies to the Basic Law

15,

The basic policies are : to maintain the stability

of Hong Kong; to encourage private economic

and prosperity

to

development; to minimise government intervention;

maintain low rates of taxation; and the structure of the Basic

Law must be able to guarantee that Hong Kong's evolution

and transition from its existing governmental] system and

economic foundations will be steady and smooth. (Any

extreme or sudden change will damage confidence and

stibility).

We therefore propose :

(i) Public expenditure must be dictated by

the amount of income available.

Basie Law of the in itself?

not be too many free lunches.

There should

だ

(ii) [The introduction of] elections should be

gradual and step-by-step. The immediate

introduction of a one-man-one-vote system would

drive certain political activists to seek votes

by promising social welfare services beyond those

we can afford, thereby leading to increased

taxation.

They might even be so unscrupulous

as to lead to social unrest.