TNAG-1716-FCO40-2396-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 157

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MDHIAN 2970

3. THIS REQUIREMENT CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE GOVERNMENT'S THINKING

ON THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. THE SYSTEM HAS TO EVOLVE AS HONG KONG SOCIET DEVELOPS, SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY AND PROSPERITY UNDER AN EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION

REMAINS AS STRONG AS EVER.

4. THESE CONSIDERATIONS POINT TOWARDS THE VALUE OF DEVELOPING A

MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM. SO AS TO IMPROVE THE RESPONSIVENESS OF

THE GOVERNMENT TO SOCIETY'S NEEDS. IT SHOULD ALSO BE RECOGNIZED

THAT HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OWE MUCH TO THE PURSUIT

OF CONSISTENT POLICIES AND PRUDENT DEVELOPMENT. THIS POINTS TO THE

NEED TO EVOLVE GRADUALLY FROM THE UNIQUE SYSTEM THAT HAS SERVED HONG KONG WELL UNTIL NOW, AND NOT TO FORCE THE PACE OF REFORM TO AN EXTENT THAT MIGHT INTRODUCE INSTABILITY AND UNCERTAINTY INTO

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY. IN THIS CONNEXION, IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE

CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT DURING THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO THE RESTORATION OF HONG KONG TO CHINA IN 1997, AND IN CONTINUITY AFTER 1997 WHEN HONG KONG WILL BE A SPECIAL ADMINIS-

TRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

5. THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVES WITH REGARD TO THE SYSTEM OF

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG ARE THEREFORE AS FOLLOWS:

(A) THAT IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO EVOLVE TO SUIT HONG KONG'S

CIRCUMSTANCES.

(B) THAT IT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE PRUDENT AND GRADUAL:

(C) THAT ANY REFORMS SHOULD HAVE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT

SO AS TO COMMAND THE CONFIDENCE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE:

AND

(D) THAT THE SYSTEM IN PLACE BEFORE 1997 SHOULD PERMIT A

SMOOTH TRANSITION IN 1997 AND A HIGH DEGREE OF CONTINUITY

THEREAFTER.

ENDS

WILSON

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