TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 67

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successful even during periods when other

territories

floundered. Above all, it has enabled the people of Hong

Kong to share in our continuing prosperity. Can you blame

them for being somewhat wary of dramatic change?

مہارت

cap

the

In following a cautious approach to the

development of representative systems The government has

also been very conscious of the need to maintain

confidence both locally and overseas. Maintenance of that

confidence will be particularly important in the crucial

years leading up to 1997. One of the ways in which

confidence will be maintained is to ensure that the system

continues to evolve in a way which not only meets the

wishes and aspirations of the Hong Kong people, and that

is vitally important, but also in ways which are

compatible with the achievement of smooth transition. Our

aim must therefore be to provide for the greatest possible

continuity of the system of representative government

before and after the transfer of government: a system

which enables the high degree of autonomy that we

presently enjoy to

enjoy to be continued

be continued up to and beyond 1997

in accordance

with the Joint

nothing we do between now and

Declaration. Certainly, nothing we

1997 must run counter to the need to maintain that high

degree of autonomy,

Sir,

I turn now to some of the important principles Λ

which government has taken into account when framing the

proposals in this White Paper.

le