TNAG-1420-FCO40-1903-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 108

5.

*

Constitutional Development (for use freely)

6. In November 1984 the Hong Kong Government published a

White Paper containing proposals for the further

development of representative Government in the territory.

The aims of the proposals were to develop progressively a

system of government the authority for which i s firmly

rooted in Hong Kong, which represents authoritatively the

views of the people of the territory and is more directly

accountable to the people of Hong Kong. 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 on the 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.

7.

The first (indirect) elections to the Legislative

Council (LEGCO) took place on 26 September. 24 members

out of a new Council of 56, were chosen, 12 of them by an

electoral college of mainly elected local government board members and 12 by functional constituencies representing

the main professional, commercial and other groups. The

remaining 32 members will continue to be appointed by the Governor. The elections were keenly contested, and there

was considerable and encouraging interest among the Hong

Kong public and media in them.

A review of progress towards representative Government

will be carried out in 1987.

8.

7

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