TNAG-1719-FCO40-2399-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 51

734 CATEF SECRETARY HUNG KUNG

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I will start with the pace of development in

.r

general and the timing of introducing direct elections into the Legislative Council in particular.

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This has been

overseas,

a major issue for comment both locally and mostly by well-intentioned people who see a full parliamentary style democracy as the only form of

democratic government. Some find it difficult to accept the fact that many people.in Hong Kong are wary of moving too far too fast towards a fully-fledged parliamentary style democracy. But, I have heard many people say that they cannot understand why there should be such a fuss over the difference between 1988 and 1991 and that the

real significance is the fact of the introduction into the Legislative Council of directly elected members. And anyone who is prepared to view our development in true perspective will agree that we are making a major advance

towards a more representative government.

The White Paper provides for 10 directly elected

seats in the Legislative Council in 1991. This means

that, in a matter of six years, Hong Kong will have moved from a legislature which was entirely appointed, through a system which provides for an indirectly elected element, to a legislature with a significant proportion of directly

elected members.

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XH SI9 80:21 88. 91 JUN