* In its annual report on IIK to Parliament for 1985-6 the British Government noted that the issue attracting most attention, particularly in the media, is whether an element of direct elections should be introduced and, particularly, whether they should be introduced in 1988.
Despite this, the HIK Govt repeatedly turned down all suggestions for a referendum on whether the public wanted to have direct elections in 1988 on the grounds there were a plethora of issues to be discussed.
* Despite the bias of the Survey Office Report, a close study of the report and its appendices shows unmistakeably that those in favour of direct elections in 1988 overwhelmingly outnumber those opposed.
* Waiting until 1991 would mean that seven years would have gone since the Agreement before the first step - entailing only a small minority of seats is taken towards establishing a directly elected legislature. It would leave precious little time for the necessary second and third steps and for such a legislature to gain experience and confidence.
* Such a three-year wait is unnecessary.
China has said the Basic
|
Law would reflect the wishes of HK people. If HK people want direct elections as evidenced by ALL survey results it is inconceivable that the basic law would not provide for them.
* Convergence is no longer an issue. the Chinese have disclosed that no matter how the pre-1997 legislature is produced, it will be dissolved in 1997, when a provisional legislature is to be chosen by a grand electoral college. THE CONCEPT OF A GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS DANGEROUS AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE HK Govt WAS BEHIND SUCH A PROPOSAL.
* HK is undergoing a crisis of confidence of the quietest nature with the middle class voting with their feet, (immigration figures, surveys which indicate that 38% of professionals etc would be able to and might leave the territory.
* It
is now incumbent on the British Govt and Parliament to see that the provisions of the Agreement are fully and faithfully
reflected
in the Basic Law. This applies to elections as well as other concepts such as accountability of the executive, human rights and civil liberties.
* A democratically chosen govt. in HK, acting in the people's interests would be the only way to implement the policy of "One country, Two Systems", and it should be a goal not only of HK, but also of Britain and China.
* using the argument that public opinion is divided on the timing
the public can be valid only if the White Paper can demonstrate that
to use them in 1988 means favours another year over 1988. Refusing logically they should not be held in any other year either.
* HK people rightly or wrongly nurse a sense of grievance and betrayal.
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