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MDHIAN 2126
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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 04090OZ FCO
TELNO 5
OF 02033OZ JANUARY 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
MY 3 RD IPT:
HRB 011/1
15 JAN 1988
:
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: WHITE PAPER
CHAPTER III
DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER
IT
18. OF ALL THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN THE GREEN PAPER, THE SUBJECT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PRODUCED BY FAR THE GREATEST PUBLIC RESPONSE. THE SURVEY OFFICE RECEIVED 124,228 SUBMISSIONS ON THE MATTER FROM INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS, REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF 137,217 PEOPLE IN ALL. ALSO RECEIVED 605 SUBMISSIONS FROM ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER BODIES. 164 PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS OF VARIOUS SORTS ADDRESSED THE ISSUE, AND 21 SIGNATURE CAMPAIGNS COLLECTED OVER 200,000 SIGNATURES. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATED THE SUBJECT AND THE MUNICIPAL
COUNCILS AND ALL DISTRICT BOARDS DISCUSSED IT.
19. THE BULK OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED WAS IN FAVOUR OF INTRODUCING
DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. EVEN
ALLOWING FOR THE FACT THAT MANY PEOPLE DID NOT EXPRESS ANY VIEWS.
IT IS PLAIN THAT THERE IS A STRONG TREND IN PUBLIC OPINION IN
FAVOUR OF DEVELOPING THE PRESENT SYSTEM FURTHER, TO INCLUDE A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, DOING SO WELL BEFORE 1997.
/
AND
20. ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT SHOULD
BE INTRODUCED IN 1988 HOWEVER, OPINION WAS DIVIDED. THOSE WHO FAVOURED INTRODUCTION IN 1988 ARGUED THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WERE IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE AND REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND SHOULD BE INTRODUCED AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE. THOSE AGAINST ARGUED THAT INTRODUCTION IN 1988 WAS TOO
SOON BECAUSE IT COULD ENDANGER STABILITY AND CONTINUITY, SINCE
THE SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS TO BE USED AFTER 1997 HAD NOT YET BEEN
ESTABLISHED IN THE BASIC LAW.
21. MOST SUBMISSIONS TO THE SURVEY OFFICE FROM INDIVIDUALS,
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