CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHOAN 1209
MEASURE OF DEMOCRACY.
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THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY-ELECTED SEATS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE 1995 ELECTIONS.
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I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL VERY CAREFULLY. IT WOULD BE A STEP WELCOMED IN HONG KONG, IN BRITAIN AND BY CHINA'S FRIENDS INTERNATIONALLY. WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO HONG KONG.
RECOGNISE THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS A SENSITIVE ONE FOR THE CHINESE SIDE BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC LAW. SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER APPROACHES. IN PARALLEL, THEREFORE, WE WISH TO EXPLORE HOW TO DEVELOP HONG KONG'S REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW. GOVERNOR WILL BE PROPOSING:
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A REDUCTION IN THE VOTING AGE TO 18
THE
- A SIMPLE VOTING SYSTEM IN WHICH EACH ELECTOR HAS A SINGLE VOTE
IN A SINGLE SEAT
TO KEEP THE EXISTING FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, BUT EXPAND THEIR ELECTORATE WHERE POSSIBLE. THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES FOR EXAMPLE TO GIVE THE VOTE TO COMPANY DIRECTORS RATHER THAN COMPANIES
THAT THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WHICH WILL BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW SHOULD BETWEEN THEM COVER ALL SECTORS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN HONG KONG. THE EFFECT OF THIS WILL BE TO GIVE ALL WORKERS A SECOND VOTE
AN INCREASE IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE IN THE BASIC LAW.
ABOLITION OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS
AN INDEPENDENT BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION REPORTING TO THE GOVERNOR
AN ELECTION COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEMSELVES
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CONFIDENTIAL
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