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Sir David's nublic remarks that, "(Hong Kong) does not (necessarily) need a Westminster-style ministerial system", show
that the original plan on political reforms had caused a controversy in London, thus resulting in staff changes among those handling Hong Kong affairs. Within the Hong Kong Government, two schools of opinion.
emerged.
On party politics, Sir David saw no direct link between He did not personally see
Neither did he believe that
direct election and political parties.
political parties emerge in Hong Kong.
political parties would be backed up by the masses.
The day after Sir David made the above remarks, the Governor
Sir Edward Youde also talked on the question of political system. Sir Edward said, "Hong Kong should develop its own political system and it is unnecessary to follow a pattern of anywhere else." The same
view was expressed by Mr XU Jiatun before. It shows that Mr XU and
Sir Edward share a common view. For those who advocate a Westmin ster-
style ministerial system, Sir Edward's remark was undoubtedly a damper.
Sir Edward and Sir David come rather close in their views but Sir Edward
has more political tact. He therefore did not chime in with the idea of a committee system. Some newspapers said that there were "differences" of opinion between Sir Edward and ir David on the matter. It appears, however, that Sir Edward was having reservations because he did not know if China supported the committee system. This shows that he is an old hand in politics. He therefore said, "I don't think I want to say before 1987 that one system is going to be better than another" and "I would like to see it grow naturally rather than try to force it into any particular pattern." Such remarks served to clarify certain doubts and assure China that he had no intention to push forward any particular
political system.
The Views Of Williams. Thomas And Scott Follow The Same Line
On the same day, the Attorney General, Mr Michael Thomas also He said that in the 1987
talked on the prospects of political reforms. review on the political system, consideration would be given on how
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