TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 75

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In taking this

decision,

the government has

taken very careful note of the views of Urban Councillors,

the majority of whom, it must be said, are opposed to this

change. Nevertheless, we believe that this is the best

way to strengthen the link between the urban District

Boards and the Urban Council and that it will in turn

strengthen and rationalise the links between the three

tiers of representative government. We hope that, despite

their present misgivings, Urban Councillors will

will be

prepared to give the new system a chance to operate in the

interests of achieving a more effective working relationship between the Urban Council and the District Boards.

Sir.

the title of this White Paper has been

selected with great care. Its purpose is to chart the

course of the development of representative government

between now and 1991, adopting the gradual approach which

has served Hong Kong well, and building on the firm basis

of the existing three-tier structure of government.

The decisions which have been taken in the White

Paper have taken full account of public opinion which has

been expressed during the 1987 Review. Indeed, public le.

opinion has been the most important factor in the minds of

members of the Executive Council when deciding how the

system of representative government should be developed in

Hong Kong.

-f

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