provoke China into challenging the status quo.
6. For all these reasons, there were considerable reservations
within the community as a whole about the idea of election-based
representative government. Instead the Hong Kong Government
sought consensus through an extensive network of consultation
boards and committees (now over 400), which have enabled members
of the public to give their advice on all areas of government activity. This system has served Hong Kong very well for many
years. As the population became increasingly settled and
sophisticated, the system evolved in a way that met the aspirations of Hong Kong people, while maintaining stability, effective administration and economic prosperity. The approach to elections was gradual and cautious, in response to the public
mood.
Beginnings of elected representation
•
The introduction of elected representatives at local government level began in the early 1970s with the Urban
Council. In 1982 District Boards were established to serve as a
forum for public consultation and participation on a territory-wide basis. In 1986 the Regional Council was
established in the New Territories as a counterpart to the Urban
Council. Elections to a proportion of the seats in these three
bodies were on a geographical constituency basis. All residents
of 21 or over who had lived in Hong Kong for 7 years could vote.
8.
But at the central level, until 1985, all LegCo members were
appointed by the Governor (apart from 3 senior officials who are
ex-officio members). In the 1985 elections, following an
extensive consultation exercise, 12 out of 56 members were
elected indirectly from functional constituencies representing
key professional and occupational groups, and 12 were elected by
an electoral college comprising all members of the Urban and
Regional Councils and the District Boards. The first direct
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