TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 200

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much public discussion about what should be included in the

chapter that will deal with the structure of government in the

future SAR. Meanwhile the Hong Kong Government is conducting a

review of the present political system in Hong Kong, which has

also given rise to lively debate. Much of that debate has

centred on the question of how the Legislative Council should

eventually be composed; it currently comprises official,

appointed and indirectly elected members.

The Joint

Declaration stipulates that, when the SAR is established in

1997, all members should be elected, but does not specify the

method of election.

The current debate on these matters should not be

allowed to conceal the fact that there is in Hong Kong a strong

consensus in favour of making the "one country, two systems"

concept work. No one is advocating independence, and it is

widely accepted that Hong Kong must have a system of government

which suits its own special needs rather than simply copy some

model from elsewhere. The system of government must be

understood by and have credibility with the people. It needs

to evolve from the existing systems, which have served Hong

Kong well and which operate in a fashion more responsive to the

public than the formal constitutional position might suggest.

The challenge we face in the present review, and that the

Chinese face in drafting the Basic Law, is to develop the

present system to meet changing needs and aspirations as well

as the provisions of the Joint Declaration while maintaining

efficiency and effectiveness of administration plus stability