TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 138

...

The

are whether there should be further changes in the composition of

the Legislative Council, and whether the Governor should continue

to be President of the

issue Legislative Council

attracting the greatest attention, particularly in the media, is

whether an element of direct elections to the Legislative Council

should be introduced, and, in particular, whether they should be

introduced in 1988."

government

repeatedly

turned down all

a

But in spite of such statement, the Hong Kong-

for suggestions

referendum on whether the public wanted to have direct elections

in 1988 on the ground that there were a plethora of issues to be

discussed. And instead of highlighting the two "main issues" as

the Green Paper buried promised,

them under

of a mountain

"options" about local administration and technical details such

as measures to discourage frivolous candidates.

And, although the government acknowledged that direct

elections in 1988 was the focus of public attion, the 42-page

Paper not once posed the simple question: "Are you

favour of direct elections in 1988 or not?"

Green

in

Instead,

the following

convoluted

and mind-boggling

section appears in the Green Paper as options regarding the

compostion of the Legislative Council:

"(i)

to make no change in the numbers and relative

proportions

of

Elected Members;

official,

Appointed

and

"(ii)

to conclude that direct elections to the

Legislative Council are not desirable;

17