TNAG-1716-FCO40-2396-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 190

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MY 8TH IPT: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER

CHAPTER VIII

THE WAY FORWARD

75. THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE 1987 GREEN PAPER SHOWED THAT

THERE IS A STRONG DEMAND AMONG THE COMMUNITY FOR THE SYSTEM OF

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TO BE DEVELOPED FURTHER. THE FORMS OF

REPRESENTATION DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS HAVE PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE

AND TO HAVE FIRM POPULAR SUPPORT. THE THREE-TIER STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT RECEIVED STRONG ENDORSEMENT IN THE 1987 REVIEW AND THERE

IS A CLEAR WISH AMONG THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO RETAIN AND

STRENGTHEN THIS SYSTEM. AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS CLEAR CONCERN THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD TAKE THE FORM OF A GRADUAL EVOLUTION, TO ENSURE STABILITY BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 AND A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997.

THESE

76. THE DECISIONS ANNOUNCED IN THIS WHITE PAPER REFLECT ALL CONSIDERATIONS, AND TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF ALL THE VIEWS EXPRESSED DURING THE COURSE OF THE REVIEW. A CONTINUING, STEADY EVOLUTION OF HONG KONG ́S SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS CLEARLY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, BOTH TO MEET THE DEVELOPING NEEDS OF OUR SOCIETY AND TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE IN OUR FUTURE. SUCH A

PROCESS PLAINLY HAS BROAD SUPPORT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

77. THE WHITE PAPER CHARTS THE COURSE OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN NOW AND 1991. THE FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT AFTER 1997 WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE BASIC LAW WHICH WILL BE PROMULGATED IN 1990. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT WILL BE NECESSARY

BETWEEN 1991 AND 1997 TO ENSURE THAT THE PROCESS OF STEADY EVOLUTION IS NOT DISRUPTED IN 1997. DECISIONS WILL THEREFORE NEED TO BE TAKEN DURING THAT PERIOD TO ENABLE HONG KONG S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT TO EVOLVE IN A WAY THAT IS COMPATIBLE BOTH WITH THE FRAMEWORK SET OUT IN THE BASIC LAW AND WITH THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY. THESE DECISIONS WILL REQUIRE FURTHER PUBLIC

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