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some time ago that the Government had put its credibility on the line over this political review. The general perception is, of course,
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That is what the honourable Mr. Andrew Wong whose said, but
way. 5 though
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not in exactly the same language. Indeed, even the honourable Miss Lydi Dunn had no knowledge that "China's well publicised attitude to direct elections in 1988 h not helped.". That is why the Government finds it so hopelessly difficult to defend a decision made by someone else and
with which they might not even agree. Perhaps that is why the Governmen
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could not give a single valid reason in the White Paper for not introducing direct elections this year.
aboni
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The White Paper sets out the policies of the Government and it cannot be amended, not even the title as I suggested. But the policies. contained in it can't be dropped or buried. //We
We are urged by numerous members to forget the issue of direct elections for 1988, and concentrat on the Basic Law. Of course the Basic Law is important, but the first
draft will not be published until May. And may I put a question to 19 this Council: What makes us think the public opinion on the Basic Law
will be listened to by the Chinese Government when our own Hong Kong Government has chosen to ignore the strong public opinion in support of direct elections for 1988 Indeed, we would be rightly reminded of the view of one rather senior Chinese official that this Council
should not debate the Basic Law, a view which I totally reject. May I respectfully call upon the Government then to make a formal statement that this Council will be allowed to debate the Basic Law even if there is strong objections from China, and Dunn, our leader,influence all my colleagues, in other words: To show our determination to work together in implementing the Joint Declaration, by debating the Basic Law, irrespective of China's attitude on the matter.
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I hope the honoure Miss Lydia
her own
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And I earnestly hope that those members who have said during this debate that we should concentrate on the Basic Law would not later turn into pragmatists, and say that we must not because of confrontation with China by debating a law which has been
drafted by that august government.
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