TNAG-1446-FCO40-1930-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 81

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IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE CONDUCT OF OUR AFFAIRS. IT REQUIRES TOO, POLITICAL STABILITY. THE DRAMATIC PROGRESS WHICH HONG KONG, HAS MADE OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES WAS NOT BUILT ON CONFLICT AND

TURBULENCE. IT WAS BUILT ON A CONSTANT SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS. THERE HAS BEEN AND IS ROOM FOR HEALTHY DISSENT AND DEBATE. I SEE LITTLE PROFIT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HOWEVER, IN CALLS THAT ONE PART OF THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE SET

AGAINST ANOTHER.

A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF WILL NOT STAND.

IT IS ONLY A SOCIETY WHICH IS BOTH PROSPEROUS AND STABLE

WHICH CAN OFFER THE MEANS CONTINUOUSLY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE MEANS TO ENSURE THAT DECENT HOUSING IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL, HOWEVER LIMITED THEIR INCOME, - THE MEANS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND

WELFARE SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES

FOP PEOPLE TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES THROUGH SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND

SPORTING PURSUITS IN A HEALTHIER AND CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.

ONLY THUS CAN WE ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES OF MAINTAINING A STRONG

CARING AND COHESIVE SOCIETY, CONFIDENT IN ITSELF AND ITS INSTITU-

TIONS: OF CONTINUING TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS

FAIR: RESPONSIBLE AND PESPONSIVE TO THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG: AND OF PROVIDING THE RESOURCES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO

A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

(2) STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT

THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE TERRITORY IS NOW

WELL ESTABLISHED, AT DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCIL

AND CENTRAL LEGISLATIVE LEVEL. EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST YEAR

SUGGESTS THAT THIS STRUCTURE IS SERVING HONG KONG WELL.

IN 1987 WE SHALL REVIEW PROGRESS AND CONSIDER THE FURTHER

DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THIS WILL BE ONE OF

THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS OF THE COMING YEAR. OUR SOCIETY IS

NOT STATIC AND WE MUST BE ALIVE TO THE NEED TO ALLOW WIDER

PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESSES OF GOVERNMENT IF THIS PROVES TO BE THE GENERAL ASPIRATION OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE 1987 REVIEW WILL CALL FOR A CAREFUL ASSESSMENT OF

DEVELOPMENTS SINCE PUBLICATION OF THE 1994 WHITE PAPER AND OF THE

RESPONSE OF THE COMMUNITY TO THEM. IT WILL CONSIDER WHETHER

FURTHER CHANGES ARE DESIRABLE AND IF SO, THE TIMESCALE FOR THEIR

INTRODUCTION. THE GREEN PAPER, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE

FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR, WILL SEEK THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ON THESE

ISSUES INCLUDING WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER CHANGES TO THE

COMPOSITION AND THE METHOD OF SELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THIS COUNCIL.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF OPINION AND NO

CLEAR CONSENSUS ON MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES. AMPLE TIME WILL THEREFORE

BE ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION. ONLY THEN WILL COME THE TIME

FOR FIRM DECISIONS. EXPECT THE SUBSEQUENT WHITE PAPER TO BE

READY BY THE END OF 1987.

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