TNAG-1726-FCO40-2439-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 70

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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social maturity before taking the big leap forward. the motion debate on Survey Office Report, I re-emphasised that any significant change in a political system should not be introduced in haste. Hong Kong cannot afford any

political gamble. We have at stake the livelihood and the future of well over five million people. Direct election is

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a very significant political change. To effect this change in 1988 would be too drastic and therefore too risky unless we were definitely sure that the majority of the population supported the move and were ready for it.

It is apparent that public opinion is very much divided over the timing of direct election. This is also true amongst members of the Legislative and Urban Council, members of pistrict Boards and

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leaders of different associations. If the community is basically in doubt it would be even more risky to introduce any drastic political change.

With these remarks, Sir, I oppose the amendments.

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MR, SZETO (in Cantonese): Sir, I support the amendments proposed by Mr. Martin Lee. The original motion is that this 21 Council takes note of the plans and intentions contained in the

White Paper, the development of representative Government; the way forward. This motion is quite meaningless. The Legislative Councillors are neither blind nor deaf. Therefore

how can we ast we cannot help but take note of the White Paper. We are neither trees nor granite and then after taking note of the White Paper, how can we neither welcome nor reject the contents? I do not understand why our Chief Secretary, Sir David Ford, choses not to use the word "welcome" instead of "take note". -30 Does that mean that he does not want it to be welcomed, or is

литика пот it because he knows that it won't be welcomed? Under the existing political system the Legislative Council will not and cannot go against the White Paper because even if we go against it, it will be quite ineffective.

in this Council the majority are official members and appointed men before the debate Government officials have said that no matter

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