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DEFENSIVE POINTS
A.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
HMG backtracking on direct elections?/Already promised direct elections in 1988/1984 White Paper committed HMG to this?
No truth in this suggestion [Regret that BBC so seriously
understand they have corrected earlies misrepresented position]. inaccurate reports.
- 1984 White Paper made no commitment to introduce direct elections in 1988. Merely noted state of opinion at the time (that suggested a small number of direct elected seats might be introduced in 1988).
8.4 White Paper undertook to review position in 1987: that undertaking was carried out in full.
- Have never prescribed precise model or timetable for introduction of direct elections: that would have been to prejudge issue, make nonsense of public consultation process.
Commitment to development of representative government as strong
as ever.
www
But believe changes should be gradual, command widest possible
consensus of support.J
1984 White Paper and subsequent Ministerial statements created an expectation that there would be direct elections in 19887
Whateve, impression those farouring direct dection in 88 may have trid to five: White Paper undertook only that position would be reviewed in
fact is ther
1987.
That review left all options open, including possibility of direct elections in 1988.
But much has happened since 1984. Joint Declaration has been Kistrik in itself signed; Basic Law is being drafted. Only natural that this should affect people's thinking about direct elections.
Review was biased?
Review was genuine: conducted in a scrupulously fair and objective way.
-
Believe findings were a fair reflection of public opinion as a
whole.
Finding that on timing of introduction of direct elections opinion is sharply divided is entirely consistent with what has emerged in debate and discussion at all levels and in all fora in Hong Kong.
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