TNAG-1717-FCO40-2397-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 39

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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 the timing of

this move.

23.

Opinions on how direct elections might be

few

and also divided.

organized

were

Those

who

commented were on balance in favour of having several

constituencies rather than a single territory-wide

constituency. They also showed a slight preferente for

in addition to, having direct elections

instead of, the present system of indirect elections by

an electoral college.

to, rather

than

Stability and Transition

24.

Stable

government has always been crucial

to

Stability is essential

for

Hong Kong. It will remain crucial in the years leading

up to 1997 and beyond.

confidence in the government and in the future of the

territory, as well as for overseas business confidence

in Hong Kong. This important point has always been

well recognized by the community.

25.

The maintenance of stability requires that the

development of Hong Kong's system of representative

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