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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 11 December 1984

At the Standing Committee of the Whole Council Meeting held on December 4, 1984, it was agreed by Members that this Motion be debated at today's

Council Meeting.

Members will recall that the Green paper on this subject was debated at the Council Meetings on September 4 and September 6 and the text of that Motion was that the views of Council Members on the Green Paper should be conveyed to the Government. I now lay on the table a copy of the Resolution which was passed by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council Meeting on September 27 and forwarded to the Governor through the Chief Secretary on the same date (Appendix I).

Members will also recall that when I moved the Motion at the Council Meeting on October 9 on the Sino-British Draft Agreement on the Future of Hong Kong, I tabled a time-table proposing what was my own view as to the pace of change towards an elected legislature, comprising indirect election (including the electoral colleges and functional constituencies) and a directly elected element from regional constituencies between 1988 and 1991. For ease of reference, I once again lay on the table this time-table (Appendix II).

In this time-table, I proposed that there should be 10 directly elected Legislative Council Members in 1988. to be elected from five regional constituencies. It is my belief that a very significant number of Hong Kong people hold the view that 1985 would be too early to have a directly elected element in the Legislative Council but that this ought to be introduced at the 1988 Legislative Council election. Because there is strong public support for direct election-and this is also indicated in the White Paper-I would urge the Government to plan accordingly as soon as practicable after the Legislative Council election takes place along the lines proposed in the White Paper in September 1985. I think it makes sense for the Hong Kong Government to clarify and state its intention on this matter of having direct election to the Legislative Council even before 1987, so that preparations by China in reference to the first Draft of the Basic Law and to consulting the views of the people of Hong Kong therein will not be unduly impeded.

I would take this opportunity to stress that Urban Councillors are of the view that because the Council plays a significant and effective role at the level of regional administration, the Council should have been allocated two seats to the Legislative Council instead of just one.

Last week was historic for Hong Kong when the British Parliament debated the Motion to transfer sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997. The worries, concerns and reservations of Hong Kong people as contained in the Assessment Report were aired during the Debate.

As Britain will have the responsibility between now and 1997 for the good governance of Hong Kong. I fully agree that there should be an annual monitoring within the British Parliament of Hong Kong affairs. I hope that the

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 11 December 1984

All Party Hong Kong Parliamentary Group will continue to actively watch over and safeguard the interests of Hong Kong and its 53 million people between

now and 1997.

We should get on with the job of building up our own unique legislative system in the light of our own economic, political and social circumstances. The more Hong Kong people get involved in the political and administrative processes, the stronger will be our sense of commitment and of confidence in

Hong Kong's future.

The future of this territory lies in the hands of Hong Kong people themselves. We have to be realistic and pragmatic in our progression towards a representative system of government suitable to Hong Kong circumstances, if we are to ensure that Hong Kong will continue to be an international centre of trade and finance, and a place where there is stability, prosperity, personal freedom and the rule of law.

I know that all Members of this Council, without exception, are fully committed to work towards maintaining Hong Kong's stability and progress. and towards this end, we look forward to sustained and unconditional support of the United Kingdom and China.

I so move.

APPENDIX I

RESOLVED that this Council agrees with the objectives of the Green paper on The Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong issued by the Central Government but recommends the following:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

That, because the Council believes it necessary to increase the responsibilities and the number of unofficial Legislative Council members, Government progressively increases the number of unofficials and reduces the number of officials now sitting on the Legislative Council.

That Government arranges, if possible by 1987, for the election to the Legislative Council of a balanced proportion of members via indirect election in one or more forms, direct election, and appointment. That Government arranges for several electoral colleges to be formed separately for the two Regional Councils and for groups of District Boards and that only members of such electoral colleges be eligible for election by these colleges.

That Government arranges for direct elections on the basis of regional constituencies, according to population distribution.

That as the responsibilities of unofficial Legislative Council members increase, Government arranges for reasonable financial and staff support for such members.