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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 11 December 1984
My view is: DIRECT ELECTION in 1988 must take place, the review is only on the question of 'HOW MANY?'
With these words, I support the motion before Council.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, with regard to the Sino-British agreement, some are of the opinion that it is the best that could possibly be achieved and we have no choice but to accept the issue left over by history. Britain takes the cue of the situation and agrees to the renouncement of the treaties.
The White Paper recently published is an initial scheme based on the principle of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong.
As there are expectedly many problems with the government system awaiting solution, we must not be too demanding at this time. I should stress one point here: There will be a review in 1987 after a trial period of two years. The merits and demerits will then be plain for everyone to see and to be evaluated.
With reviews to be conducted once every two years, we shall still have five chances for revision to achieve a more ideal and rational administration.
The Chinese authorities too are groping their way in the enactment of the Basic Law. Hong Kong has gone through all kinds of hardships and difficulties but stoutly remains the Pearl of the Orient. It must surely have its strong points.
Changes are inevitable in the coming 50 years. Any loopholes will be plugged, errors corrected, and the undesirable done away with, so as to make Hong Kong the Pearl of even brighter lustre and higher quality.
Moral responsibility is no more than lip service without concrete commitment. Having only ourselves to rely on, we must hold fast to the principle of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong to find our own way out. The people of Hong Kong are gifted with the talent to overcome any difficulty. I am confident of the creativity and self-restraint of the Hong Kong people who are not to be daunted by any difficulty. Over the past 30 years, there have been many who have, with perseverance and diligence, built up their enterprises from scratch. With our sound international credibility and status and success in the financial field, we shall certainly be able to govern ourselves under 'one country, two systems'. Hong Kong will in time set a unique example to the major powers in the world. This is a responsibility that we and younger members of this Council must shoulder.
As for the system of government, election to the Legislative Council is only a beginning, and election to the Executive Council as well as the powers and responsibilities of the government are now also under study. No system is faultless. We could only seek perfection by way of constant reviews and improvements. The concept of 'one country, two systems' is unprecedented and extremely complicated too. Both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments are groping their way. However, where there's a will, there's a way. Let's follow this principle and hack our way through difficulties to accomplishment of a historical task.
With the above humble views, I support the motion.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the White Paper on representative government recently published by the Hong Kong government proposes a major reform in the system of government in Hong Kong. The main aim is for such a system to fully reflect the views of the people and that it is more directly accountable to the people of Hong Kong.
In discussing the question of representative government, we must not lose sight of the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997 and the reasons why Beijing is prepared to allow Hong Kong to remain unchanged for 50 years.
On the one hand, Beijing desires a stable and prosperous Hong Kong, while on the other, Britain is trying to obtain some advantageous terms and beat a retreat with honour.
In view of her policy of granting self-government to the colonies, Britain wishes to hand back the administration to the people of Hong Kong, but at the same time also hopes for a smooth transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997. The agreement between China and Britain will be signed on 19th December. It may be said that the negotiations between Britain and China are concluded to mutual satisfaction. The draft agreement has been debated in both houses of the British Parliament in the past 10 days and approved.
The agreement between China and Britain is a foregone conclusion and the question now is: How Hong Kong may achieve stability and prosperity? How Hong Kong people may retain their confidence and carry on their hard work? How the objective of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong may be realized?
To enable Hong Kong people to govern themselves, the government should be more open and introduce election to the Legislative Council.
The White Paper on representative government proposes to hold a kind of indirect election initially and to consider the issue of direct election after a review in 1987.
The White Paper points out that the bulk of response from all sources suggests a cautious approach with a start by introducing a very small number of directly elected members to the Legislative Council in 1988.
The people are concerned that too rapid progress towards direct elections could place the future stability and prosperity of Hong Kong in jeopardy.
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Page 151 of 233
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 11 December 1984
—
My view is: DIRECT ELECTION in 1988 must take place, the review is only on the question of 'HOW MANY?'
With these words, I support the motion before Council.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, with regard to the Sino-British agreement, some are of the opinion that it is the best that could possibly be achieved and we have no choice but to accept the issue left over by history. Britain takes the cue of the situation and agrees to the renouncement of
the treaties.
The White Paper recently published is an initial scheme based on the principle of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong.
As there are expectedly many problems with the government system awaiting solution, we must not be too demanding at this time. I should stress one point here: There will be a review in 1987 after a trial period of two years. The merits and demerits will then be plain for everyone to see and to be evaluated.
With reviews to be conducted once every two years, we shall still have five chances for revision to achieve a more ideal and rational administration.
The Chinese authorities too are groping their way in the enactment of the Basic Law. Hong Kong has gone through all kinds of hardships and difficulties but stoutly remains the Pearl of the Orient. It must surely have its strong points.
Changes are inevitable in the coming 50 years. Any loopholes will be plugged, errors corrected, and the undesirable done away with, so as to make Hong Kong the Pearl of even brighter lustre and higher quality.
Moral responsibility is no more than lip service without concrete commit- ment. Having only ourselves to rely on, we must hold fast to the principle of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong to find our own way out. The people of Hong Kong are gifted with the talent to overcome any difficulty. I am confident of the creativity and self-restraint of the Hong Kong people who are not to be daunted by any difficulty. Over the past 30 years, there have been many who have, with perseverance and diligence, built up their enterprises from scratch. With our sound international credibility and status and success in the financial field, we shall certainly be able to govern ourselves under 'one country, two systems'. Hong Kong will in time set a unique example to the major powers in the world. This is a responsibility that we and younger members of this Council must shoulder.
As for the system of government, election to the Legislative Council is only a beginning, and election to the Executive council as well as the powers and responsbilities of the government are now also under study. No system is faultless. We could only seek perfection by way of constant reviews and improvements. The concept of 'one country, two systems' is unprecedented and extremely complicated too. Both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments are
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Page 151 of 233
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groping their way. However, where there's a will, there's a way. Let's follow This principle and hack our way through difficulties to accomplishment of a historical task.
With the above humble views, I support the motion.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the White Paper on representative government recently published by the Hong Kong government proposes a major reform in the system of government in Hong Kong. The main aim is for such a system to fully reflect the views of the people and that it is more directly accountable to the people of Hong Kong.
In discussing the question of representative government, we must not lose sight of the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997 and the reasons why Beijing is prepared to allow Hong Kong to remain unchanged for 50 years.
On the one hand, Beijing desires a stable and prosperous Hong Kong, while on the other, Britain is trying to obtain some advantageous terms and beat a retreat with honour.
In view of her policy of granting self-government to the colonies, Britain wishes to hand back the administration to the people of Hong Kong, but at the same time also hopes for a smooth transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997. The agreement between China and Britain will be signed on 19th December. It may be said that the negotiations between Britain and China are concluded to mutual satisfaction. The draft agreement has been debated in both houses of the British Parliament in the past 10 days and approved.
The agreement between China and Britain is a foregone conclusion and the question now is: How Hong Kong may achieve stability and prosperity? How Hong Kong people may retain their confidence and carry on their hard work? How the objective of Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong may be realized?
To enable Hong Kong people to govern themselves, the government should be more open and introduce election to the Legislative Council.
The White Paper on representative government proposes to hold a kind of indirect election initially and to consider the issue of direct election after a review in 1987.
The White Paper points out that the bulk of response from all sources suggests a cautious approach with a start by introducing a very small number of directly elected members to the Legislative Council in 1988.
The people are concerned that too rapid progress towards direct elections could place the future stability and prosperity of Hong Kong in jeopardy.
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