TNAG-1603-FCO40-2210-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-reports-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kon-1987 — Page 57

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compared with 179 questions and

and 349 supplementaries in the previous

session, and held debates on a number of specific policy issues.

26.

Thus the 1985/86 session saw a marked increase in the volume

of business conducted by the Council.

It was characterised by

lively and at time heated debate on important issues such as the safety of the future nuclear power plant at Daya Bay in Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China

and the further

development of representative government in the territory.

27

and

The increasingly vigorous style of Council proceedings the tendency for Councillors to air their differences openly, rather

1986/87 session.

than in closed session, as in the past, has continued into the

The debate on the motion of thanks for the

Governor' S opening address, during which almost all members spoke,

was dominated by

discussion of the direction which the further

development

of Hong Kong's system of representative government

at

should take. Views were expressed strongly for and against rapid changes

in the present system The current session has also seen the Council adopt the practice of holding an adjournment debate

Issues already debated include medical services, public housing rental policy care of the elderly, industrial safety and education.

the close

of

virtually every sitting

The 1987 Review

28.

In line with the commitment

Kong Government will undertake a

in the 1984 White Paper, the Hong

further review of

the progress of

A Green Paper

the development of representative government in 1987. will be published, following which there will be a period of public

consultation.

A White Paper setting out

the Government' S

intentions, in the light of public opinion expressed, will then be published. The main issues on which the views of the public will be

sought include whether there should be further changes

composition of the Legislative Council, and whether the

should continue to be President of the Legislative

in

the

Governor

Council.

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