TNAG-2215-FCO40-3182-Address-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-Legis-1991 — Page 56

CONFIDENTIAL

IDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO

2988

OF 240718Z SEPTEMBER 91

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

152126

MDHIAN 4247

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PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS HKD FROM GOVERNOR

PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

MIPT: MY ANNUAL ADDRESS TO LEGCO: 9 OCTOBER

1. TEXT OF SECTION ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS AS FOLLOWS:

BEGINS

5. ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS I WISH TO ADDRESS TODAY IS THE WORKING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION. WITHOUT THIS COUNCIL'S SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION IN THE SMOOTH HANDLING OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE TERRITORY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER THE QUALITY AND CHOICE OF SERVICE THAT OUR PEOPLE EXPECT AND DESERVE. FOR ITS PART, THE ADMINISTRATION MUST ADAPT ITS OWN PROCEDURES TO THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT WE NOW HAVE.

IT

6. UNDER HONG KONG'S PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM, THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION. CANNOT LAUNCH ITS OWN POLITICAL PARTY, SUPPORTED BY ITS OWN MEDIA AND CONSTITUENCY APPARATUS. ON THE CONTRARY, AT A TIME OF ELECTIONS, THE ADMINISTRATION MUST REMAIN NEUTRAL. ITS TASK IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE PART, BOTH AS CANDIDATES AND VOTERS, AND THEN TO SEE FAIR PLAY. THIS ROLE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF A GOVERNING PARTY IN A WESTERN STYLE DEMOCRACY.

7.

TO PASS LEGISLATION AND OBTAIN FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR ITS PROGRAMMES, THEREFORE, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE TO WIN THE CONFIDENCE OF A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS IN THIS COUNCIL. THIS MEANS BUILDING UP A CO-OPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL. THE ADMINISTRATION WILL PLAY ITS PART BY PRESENTING THE COUNCIL WITH MEASURES WHICH WE BELIEVE TO BE PRACTICAL, PRUDENT AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. IT IS THE TASK OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AND EXPLANATION THEY NEED TO

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CONFIDENTIAL