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CONSTITUENCIES, TEN MADE UP OF THE MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND
ONE EACH FROM THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS. THEY CAN ELECT
ANYONE IN HONG KONG WHO IS A REGISTERED ELECTOR AND MEETS
RESIDENCE QUALIFICATIONS. IN FACT AT PRESENT TEN SEATS ARE
FILLED BY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND THE OTHER TWO BY A MEMBER
EACH FROM THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.
7.
IT WAS STATED IN THE 1984 WHITE PAPER THAT A REVIEW OF
PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE
CARRIED OUT IN 1987. FURTHER CONSIDERATION WOULD THEN BE GIVEN
TO DIRECT ELECTIONS, AND TO THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR AS
PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ELECTIONS TO THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE CONDUCTED ON THE NEW BASIS IN SEPTEMBER
1985. THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN
SEPTEMBER 1988.
TIMETABLE FOR THE 1987 REVIEW AND THE ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC
OPINION
8.
IT IS THE ANNOUNCED INTENTION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
THAT THE REVIEW SHOULD BE LAUNCHED WITH THE PUBLICATION OF A
GREEN PAPER NO LATER THAN MAY 1987. SOME FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS
WILL BE ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION, AND A WHITE PAPER
SETTING OUT THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT TO THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER 1987.
9.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NOW CONSIDERING HOW PUBLIC
OPINION CAN BEST BE ASSESSED AFTER THE GREEN PAPER IS PUBLISHED.
HONG KONG HAS A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR MONITORING OPINION
EXPRESSED BY INDIVIDUALS OR THE MEDIA: BUT IT IS ALSO NECESSARY
TO GIVE DUE WEIGHT TO THE OPINIONS OF THE LESS VOCAL SECTIONS OF
THE POPULATION. IT WILL BE CRITICAL THAT THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT'S ASSESSMENT OF OPINION SHOULD BE SEEN AS AN OBJECTIVE
ONE.
THE MAIN ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED
10.
THE 1987 REVIEW WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER ISSUES QUOTE LEFT
OVER UNQUOTE FROM THE 1984 WHITE PAPER (PARA 7 ABOVE) AS WELL AS
ANY NEW ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE ARISEN.
11.
AT PRESENT WE ENVISAGE THAT THE PRINCIPAL ISSUES ON WHICH
THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ARE TO BE SOUGHT WILL BE:
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