TNAG-1716-FCO40-2396-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 209

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MDHIAN 2126

GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS WERE AGAINST THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT

ELECTIONS IN 1988. THE TWO PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS COMMISSIONED

BY THE SURVEY OFFICE PRODUCED A SIMILAR RESULT. OTHER PUBLIC

OPINION SURVEYS AND SIGNATURE CAMPAIGNS WERE GENERALLY IN FAVOUR

FO INTRODUCTION IN 1988. OPINIONS AMONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS DIFFERED WIDELY.

22. TAKEN AS A WHOLE, THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER SHOWED THAT THERE IS WIDE SUPPORT AMONG THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

FOR THE PRINCIPLE OF INTRODUCING DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS INTO THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BUT THAT THE COMMUNITY IS DIVIDED OVER WHEN

TO TAKE THE FIRST STEOP IN THIS DIRECTION.

23. FEW OPINIONS WERE EXPRESSED ON HOW DIRECT ELECTIONS MIGHT BE

ORGANIZED. THOSE WHO COMMENTED WERE ON BALANCE IN FAVOUR OF

HAVING SEVERAL CONSTITUENCIES RATHER THAN A SINGLE TERRITORY-WIDE

CONSTITUENCY. THEY ALSO TENDED TO FAVOUR HAVING DIRECT ELECTIONS IN ADDITION TO, RATHER THAN INSTEAD OF, THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS BY AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

STABILITY AND TRANSITION

24. THERE IS A STRONG CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE

IMPORTANCE OF STABILITY. STABLE GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN

CRUCIAL TO HONG KONG. IT WILL REMAIN CRUCIAL IN THE YEARS LEADING

UP TO 1997 AND BEYOND. STABILITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT AND IN THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY, WELL AS FOR OVERSEAS BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG.

AS

25. THE MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY REQUIRES THAT THE DEVELOPMENT

OF HONG KONGHS SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTINUE

TO BE EVOLUTIONARY RATHER THAN REVOLUTIONARY: THAT EACH STEP

SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED: AND THAT CHANGES SHOULD COMMAND

WIDE SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

26. SUCH EVOLUTION MUST ALSO BE COMPATIBLE WITH A SMOOTH TRANSFER

OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997. THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN 1997. BUT THE

INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY REQUIRE THAT THESE CHANGES SHOULD BE

KEPT TO THE MINIMUM DICTATED BY THE RESTORATION OF SOVEREIGNTY TO

CHINA, AND THAT THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN PARTICULAR SHOULD

CONTINUE TO BE ONE WITH WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE FAMILIAR AND IN WHICH THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE. IT FOLLOWS FROM THIS THAT,

IN

CONSIDERING HOW FURTHER TO DEVELOP HONG KONG S SYSTEM OF REPRESENT-

ATIVE GOVERNMENT BEFORE 1997, ONE MUST TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE RELEVANT

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