THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
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on a new airport is expected to be taken by the end of the year. These and other major capital projects not only contribute to Hong Kong's economic prosperity, but also encourage confidence in Hong Kong's long term future. We believe the continuing commitment of private companies, as well as of the Hong Kong Government to such projects is of great importance. We recommend, particularly, that a decision to go ahead with construction of a second airport should be taken as soon as possible.
Progress towards Representative Government
3.7 Those in favour of a speedy progress to full democracy in Hong Kong (ie general election by universal suffrage for all members of the Legislative Council and the Chief Executive) argue that only democracy can ensure Hong Kong's promised high degree of autonomy. As Mr Szeto Wah' told us, in formal evidence before the Committee "it is only with a democratic system that we can have a true degree of autonomy for Hong Kong, and it will be one country, two systems and it will comply with the spirit of the Joint Declaration". 2 He explained that when the Basic Law Drafting Committee (BLDC) had voted on the articles on the Second draft on the Basic Law he had abstained on all the articles which he had not voted against, “because the key to the Basic Law in my view is the political structure".3 When we were in Hong Kong it was clear that there were very divided views on this issue. Some of the more conservative people we spoke to felt that progress on the development of representative government should, in the interests of stability, be made gradual because "the change of sovereignty issue is already trauma enough". Others argued that the progress to full democracy envisaged in the second draft of the Basic Law was too fast. Mr Vincent Lo3 told us, “we believe we are already moving very rapidly down the democratic road. If we move any faster we might trip over ourselves." It was also argued that the very low turn-out in the elections for the District Boards held in March 1989-17.6 per cent-illustrated a lack of interest in democracy on the part of Hong Kong people. We cannot accept this argument, for two reasons: first any elections for local government organisations with very limited powers must expect a low turnout, and secondly the huge demonstrations which have since taken place in Hong Kong, have shown that now, at least if not before, there is tremendous interest in, and commitment to, democracy. Moreover we were impressed by the quality of the directly elected members of District Boards whom we met in Hong Kong, and the keen interest which they took in the development of representative government.
3.8. During our visit we urged all those we spoke to in Hong Kong to find a means of establishing a definite Hong Kong view on this issue. We, therefore, welcomed the final emergence of unanimous agreement in OMELCO on a timetable to full democracy (ie direct election of all members) for the Legislative Council in 2003, and that the Chief Executive should be elected by universal suffrage no later than 2003. We would, however, emphasise that agreement in OMELCO is only the first step towards establishing a consensus, or at least majority view, among Hong Kong people themselves.
3.9. It is clear that the student demonstrations encouraged OMELCO to reach agreement on a timetable for considerably faster progress to representative government either than had been envisaged in the second draft of the Basic Law or than a number of members of OMELCO to whom we spoke had wanted at the time of our visit. OMELCO's decision was taken on 24 May before the events of 3-4 June. The brutality and horror of the repression of that weekend have made even more imperative the early establishment of proper representative institutions in Hong Kong. There have indeed been calls reportedly by, among others, a former Chief Secretary of the Territory, for direct elections to all seats in the Legislative Council in 1991. The object of such fast progress is to have democracy as much entrenched as possible before 1997, and to allow the new democratic institutions themselves time to earn the respect of Hong Kong people.
3.10. We agree with the objective, but it is also essential to maintain the continuity and stability in Hong Kong's government which underpins the economic prosperity of the territory. We believe that full democracy must be introduced before 1997, and that, consistent with
• Member of the Legislative Council and member of the Basic Law Drafting Committee.
* Q 444.
* Q 448.
* Q 318.
* Convenor of the Business and Professional Group of the Basic Law Consultative Committee.
• Q 205.
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