government and without interference from the
administration.
Two independent monitors were appointed
its
to oversee its work and to ensure that it carried out
duties in a fair and objective way. The Review generated
considerable public interest. The sounding of public
opinion took many forms and did not rely on the results
of individual polls or surveys.
Care was taken to obtain
a representative overall picture.
28. The Review and the findings of the Survey Office
showed that public opinion was in favour of introducing a
directly elected element into the Legislative Council
before 1997, but was sharply divided on the timing of
this change. Some people favoured the introduction of
directly elected members in 1988, arguing that direct
elections would promote the development of more open,
accountable and representative government, and should
therefore be introduced as early as possible.
Others
argued that it was too soon to take such a step in 1988,
only three years after the last major constitutional
change, when indirect elections to the Legislative
Council were introduced, or because the system of
elections to be used after 1997 had not yet been
established in the Basic Law due to be promulgated in
1990. In view of this clear division of opinion, and
having taken into account all the arguments, the British
and Hong Kong Governments concluded that on balance it
would be right, and in line with the wishes of the
community as a whole, to make the next major
constitutional change in 1991.
The Hong Kong
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