TNAG-1716-FCO40-2396-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 76

G.F. 316

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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

inevitable changes at that time. The interests of the

community will be best served if there is also a high

degree of continuity and the form of government is one

with which the people of Hong Kong are already

familiar. In considering the development of Hong

Kong's system of representative government before 1997,

account must therefore be taken of the relevant

stipulations of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and

the deliberations of the Basic Law Drafting Committee

over how those provisions should be implemented after

1997. In this connexion, the Government has taken note

of the fact that all the options in the latest draft of

the Basic Law concerning the election of the future

legislature include an element of direct elections.

Introduction of Direct Elections

27.

Having

taken account of all the factors

considered above, the Government has concluded that the

introduction of a number of directly elected Members

into the Legislative Council

Council before

before 1997 would be а

logical and desirable further step in the development

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