in
e community attached particular weight was the fear
that the introduction of party politics on western lines
would serve to polarise the community and to reproduce in
Hong Kong the rivalries that continued to exist between
the Chinese Communists and Nationalists. Such rivalries
could have had a seriously destabilising effect on the
territory. Against this background, there were
considerable reservations within the community as a whole
about the idea of election-based representative
government. In response to this generally held view, a
system of government based on consensus and consultation
was evolved. This system served Hong Kong very well for
many years. But at the same time, as the population
became increasingly settled and sophisticated, it was
necessary for the system to evolve in a way which met the
requirements and aspirations of this changing society,
while maintaining stability, effective administration and
economic prosperity.
:
28. The development of representative government has
taken place against this background. The process began
at the local level in the 1970s, with the introduction of
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an elected element into the Urban Council (the statutory
council with responsibilities for the provision of
municipal services to inhabitants of the older urban
areas of Hong Kong). In 1982 District Boards were
established on a territory wide base to serve as a forum
for public.consultation and participation in
administration at the district level. In 1986 the
Regional Council was established as the statutory
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