TNAG-1456-FCO40-1980-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 12

8.

review of the progress

of

the development of

A Green Paper will be

representative government in 1987.

published not later than May 1987, following which there

will be a period of public consultation of some four to

five months. A White Paper setting out the Government's

intentions, in the light of public opinion expressed, will

be published towards the end of 1987.

The main issues on which the views of the public will be

sought include whether there should be further changes in

the composition of the Legislative Council, specifically,

whether there should be a system of direct elections for a

proportion of the seats; and whether

and whether the Governor should

continue to be President of the Legislative Council. The

composition and functions of the two municipal councils

and the District Boards will also be reviewed.

The differences of opinion voiced in the

which further

direction

Legislative Council on the

political reforms should take is a measure of the

considerable public interest which the forthcoming review

of representative government has already generated. The

issue attracting the greatest attention, particularly in

the media, is whether direct elections to the Legislative

Council should be introduced, and, in particular, whether

they should be introduced in 1988. Opinion on the issue