TNAG-2013-FCO40-2865A-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991-1990 — Page 125

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 1 March 1990

香港立法局 一九九○年三月一日

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Sir, the Hong Kong version of "democracy" has not yet been born. Here is an opportunity but also a danger. For the easy way out is to stand on a platform and shout slogans about democracy into a microphone. But, the next step will be to give away taxpayer's money and to accept in this Council whatever the loudest shouts for. So, if "democracy" demands that bus fares will be abolished for free rides then that would happen.

The current Basic Law proposal on the future political model includes many different streams of opinion. Grassroots opinion comes from the directly elected element, while the functional constituencies ensure that professional and managerial skills are recognized. All those who create the wealth of our society and the resulting freedoms should be allowed and encouraged to participate in Hong Kong's future.

This is the spirit of Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong. Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong does not mean the welfare-minded liberals ruling Hong Kong with the support of the "grassroot" people alone. I contend that everyone in Hong Kong as long as they are Hong Kong citizens has the need and the right to be involved in political life, and not the liberals alone.

The future political model proposed by the Basic Law Drafting Committee allows Hong Kong people to elect our own Chief Executive, allows Hong Kong people to elect all members of our Legislative Council, partly by direct elections, partly by functional constituency elections. Nowhere did they suggest that some or all of the members of our Legislative Council will be sent down. from Beijing or appointed by Beijing. Therefore, a motion that this Council deplores the extremely undemocratic political model for the Basic Law is inappropriate.

Separate voting

Sir, on the subject of separate voting in this Council, it will surely suit the future Chief Executive to have division, argument and confrontation within the Council. Separate parts to a single chamber can only promote disunity and disharmony. In consequence, what the executive wants, he or she can have by using the time-honoured techniques of divide and rule.

I do not see why the future Chief Executive should be presented with division within the Council which he can easily exploit. Real democracy is achieved not so much through the ballot box as through making the executive answerable to the legislature.