3
6.
The Green Paper, tabled in this Council
on 18
July, has aroused intense interest in the community. There has been much discussion of the proposals in the media and by the public at large; the proposals have been debated by all the District Boards, by the Heung Yee Kuk, by the Urban
Council and by this Council; in addition, many written submissions have been received from local organisations and
from individuals.
7.
I have been greatly encouraged by this response. It demonstrates that many people in Hong Kong are keenly interested in the development of a more representative system of government.
8.
The views expressed on
expressed on the proposals in the Green Paper will be considered by the Executive Council later this month. I will not seek to pre-empt that discussion, but this
is an
opportune moment to note the objectives on which there has been general agreement and to highlight those issues which have generated the most debate.
9.
The general reaction of the community to the proposals has been favourable. There is agreement with the gradual and progressive approach, which we proposed. There has also been general support for the view that, while changes should be made to our system of government, they should not be introduced too hastily or
in a manner which might endanger Hong Kong's stability at this crucial time.
10.
The issues on which most
discussion has
focused
are direct elections, the timing of a further review of the
constitutional
arrangements,
the
functional constituencies, and
the
ministerial system.
electoral college,
development of a
/(ii) Elections
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