TNAG-1719-FCO40-2399-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 63

21'd

3.

6.

And

written about

I

again, while 80 much has been said and

direct elections, little thought has been

given to. the sort of

of direct elections Hong Kong should have. And beyond that there is still too little discussion of the even more important question of how a fully elected legislature will operate in the future. Nor do I think that the community has been taking nearly enough interest in the drafting of the Basic Law. The people of Hong Kong know better than anyone how Hong Kong works because

we live here and make it work. The Basic Law is to be the blueprint for our capitalist system, our life-style, our freedoms' in the years to come. We must help the Basic Law Drafting Committee to get it right. And to do that effectively we need to speak with one voice on the things that really matter.

7.

:

ๆ

In the two yearS while the Joint Declaration was being negotiated, we, as a community, did pull together and did speak with one

one voice. Our unity gave us strength. The British and Chinese Governments could not ignore our

wishes, As

a result, the Joint Declafation contains much

of what we sought. But we have not done so well since the Joint Declaration was signed. As a community we have

wastad far too much time and energy in arguing among ourselves, in indulging in introspection, 10 chasing shadows, and in distrusting our own Government. We must

have raised doubts in the minds of many whether we are ready. to exercise the autonomy we have been promised.

Unless we get our Own act together there is little chance

of a successful transition, and a secure future for Hong

Kong.

8.

precedent

What is taking

decade to

highly successful, open

transfer of sovereignty;

place in Hong Kong has no

be

spent preparing a dynamic,

and articulate society for

from a nation with a long

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