TNAG-1720-FCO40-2400-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 147

MAR 10 ,00 01·47 CIC HK

The following was issusa to 10081 press today (Manan Taji

7.11

CS: PRUDENT, GRADUAL APPROACH IN HK'S BEST INTERESTS

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TONIGHT (THURSDAY) THAT HE IS MORE THAN EVER CONVING ID THAT THE PRUDENT AND GRADUAL APPROACH ADOPTED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON- DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS IN THE BEST INTER (STS OF HONG KONG,

SPEAKING AT THE END OF THE. TWO-DAY DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER, SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS CLEAR THAT MOST MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NOW ACCEPTED THAT IT WAS RIGHT TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1911.

"I AM GREATLY ENCOURAGED BY THE SUPPORT THAT SO MANY MEMBERS HAVE GIVEN TO THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER, AND 10 THE RECOGNITION THAT THE COURSE ON

WHICH WE HAVD EHDARKED IN FURTHER DEVELOPING REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS THE RIGHT ONE," HE SAID,

SIR DAVID SAID HE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY TWO BROAD THEMES THAT HAD

EMERGED.

THE FIRST RELATED TO THE QUESTION OF "WHERE WE GO FROM H 'RE".

SIR DAVID SAID THAT AS MANY MEMBERS HAD SAID, DECISIONS HAD TAKEN. THE GOVERNMENT HAD DIVEN A FIRED AND UNEQUIVOCAL LUMINA IMENT TO INTRODUCE 10 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS TO THE COUNCIL IN 1991

AND PLANNING FOR THOSE ELECTIONS SHOULD START NOW.

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BUT HE SAID THERE WERE SOME WHO SEEMED TO FEEL that FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 MUST CONTINUE.

THE FIGHT

AND I

"THAT WILL FRANKLY BE RATHER POINTLESS AND UNPRODUCTIVE WOULD ALSO ASK THOSE WHO ARE THAT WAY INCLINED TO CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONTINUING THEIR CAMPAIGN," HE SAID.

STR DAVID WENT ON: "I DO NOT QUESTION THE MOTIVEE OF THE TOUNO PEOPLE INVOLVED, BUT IT IS A FACT THAT PRESS PICTURES OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER HAVE GONE AROUND THE WORLD ON THE INTERNATIONAL WIRE SERVICES.

"AND NO ONE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER CAN KNOW FOR SURE WHAT EFFECT THE PICTURES WILL HAVE ON THE IMAGE OF HONG KONG OVERSEAS."

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