TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 69

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The importance of all these considerations has

been echoed in the public response to the Green Paper. It

is clear that the people of Hong Kong wish to see this

system of government continue to evolve and believe the

# present three-tier structure should be the basis for

further development. As I have stressed, they value the

gradual approach which has characterised development in

recent years and which has

has been SO important in

maintaining prosperity

prosperity and stability, Another factor

which has clearly been in the minds of many when

considering options in the Green Paper has been the

importance of achieving a smooth transition across 1997,

by ensuring

ensuring that developments before that date are

compatible with the framework to be established in the

Basic Law. This factor has undoubtedly led many to adopt

a cautious approach to change before the Basic Law is

finalised.

li

Sir, Ket me

turn

now

to the question of Direct

le Elections. The Green Paper considered a wide range of

issues affecting all three tiers of government and the

洴

Survey Office received comments on all of them. But, as

expected, the question of whether and when there should be

direct elections to the Legislative Council dominated all

others. The response to the Green Paper showed

overwhelming support in principle for introducing some

directly elected members into the Legislative Council well

before 1997. This is a response which the Government must

act upon.