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of the seats should be so allocated. The situation should in any event be reviewed in 1990 in the light of experience gained before a decision is made as to whether this category of Legislative Councillor should be retained or extended.
With these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. CHOW WAI-KEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like to speak briefly on Chapter IV of the Green Paper which concerns the Legislative Council. To be frank, I myself support one hundred per cent direct election in Legco. But in the past few years, it could be seen very clearly that the Chinese Government would not allow 100% direct election to Legco after 1997. Under such circumstances and in order not to be called an idealist or dreamer by people, I would allow for 50% of Legco seats being directly elected, a quarter of the seats from functional constituencies and the rest from electoral colleges. I fully support 50% of Legco seats being directly elected in 1988. I understand that it is very difficult to convince those who are against direct election in 1988 which is indeed good for Hong Kong. I would like to explain why only a quarter of seats should be returned from functional constituencies and the other quarter from electoral colleges. At present, most functional constituencies consist of many professional associations, trade unions and commercial organizations. The original intentions of establishing these organizations were not to attain any political goals but were to safeguard their professional status, to protect their employments and to enhance their business communications. But in the last term Legco, these bodies have played a very active political role. Although Legco members from these functional constituencies have done a very good job, we could not predict in future how political these organizations would become and what political impact they would have on Legco. Moreover, it is doubtful whether the presence of the representatives from these professional bodies would give rise to party politics and political conflicts let alone jeopardizing the personal relationship among their own members. I do not agree with some people's suggestion to increase more seats in Legco say 70% to these professional bodies. After careful consideration I would only allow for 15 seats to be returned from functional constituencies if the total number of Legco seats is 60.
I have had in-depth deliberation on the retention of seats from electoral colleges. I am not very satisfied with the past performance of Legco members from electoral colleges. The main argument against their presence is that voters were not aware that DB Members or Municipal Councillors who they voted might become Legco Members. If the seats from electoral colleges are to be retained, the voters when electing DB Members or Municipal Councillors have to take into account the knowledge of those candidates on Legco and the role they would play in Legco.
As regards civic education, many people have the illusion that civic education is not adequately provided and widespread in Hong Kong. As a result, it is not the ripe time in 1988 to have direct election in Legco. However, ever since in 1982 when direct election was first introduced, the candidates, the mass media, the political parties and the social welfare agencies have made great effort in promoting the level of civic education with remarkable results. Hong Kong people are now quite civic minded and they are well aware that they must think carefully and take all factors in consideration when direct election is held. Inadequacy of civic education and lack of political awareness of Hong Kong people should not be employed any more as an argument against direct election. On one occasion, a speaker used an American book on civic education as a pretext to oppose direct election in 1988. He said that direct election should only be held when such book similar to the American one was available. I quite appreciated what another speaker spoke in response to this remark. He commented that direct election was held one hundred years ago in America in the absence of this book. So I think the best way to upgrade civic education is by way of practice. Mr. Chairman, if the number of seats in Legco should be 60, then the number of appointed and official seats should be progressively reduced to zero. We should have not more than 12 directly elected seats in 1988 and the number be increased gradually to 30 i.e. 50% of the total seats. I personally believe that if Hong Kong people believe China and its sincerity to let Hong Kong people govern by themselves, they will speak about wishes. On the contrary, they will keep their mouth shut. However, if we are given the false impression that China will respect the opinion of Hong Kong people, they will be tempted to express their wishes. I hope that the suggestion supported by over 130,000 of having 20% directly elected seats in Legco in 1988 will gain more support from Hong Kong people. The wishes that people of Hong Kong are keen to strive for high degree of autonomy should be conveyed clearly to the British Government as well as the Chinese Government. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-
An Appeal to the Silent Majority
Since the Green Paper on 'The 1987 Review of Developments in Representative Government' was published, hundreds of debates and seminars on this subject have been organized by the Legislative Council, District Boards, the Regional Council, the Urban Council and other non-government bodies. However, the figures recently released by the Survey Office show that only 7,000-odd submissions of written comments have been received from the public and groups. The silent majority still remain silent.
What I am going to talk about today is not intended for those who would continue to take Hong Kong as their home and have shown a positive attitude, since these people have already declared their stand and shouldered a due responsibility for Hong Kong which is now at the crossroads. Today I am going to speak to the majority who have remained reticent up to now.
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Page 68 of 185
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of the seats should be so allocated. The situation should in any event be reviewed in 1990 in the light of experience gained before a decision is made as to whether this category of Legislative Councillor should be retained or
extended.
With these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. CHOW WAI-KEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like to speak briefly on Chapter IV of the Green Paper which concerns the Legislative Council. To be frank, I myself support on hundred per cent direct election in Legco. But in the past few years, it could be seen very clearly that the Chinese Government would not allow 100% direct election to Legco after 1997. Under such circumstances and in order not to be called an idealist or dreamer by people, I would allow for 50% of Legco seats being directly elected, a quarter of the seats from functional constituencies and the rest from electoral colleges. I fully support 50% of Legco seats being directly elected in 1988. I understand that it is very difficult to convince those who are against direct election in 1988 which is indeed good for Hong Kong. I would like to explain why only a quarter of seats should be returned from functional constituencies and the other quarter from electoral colleges. At present, most functional constituencies consist of many professional associations, trade unions and commercial organizations. The orginal intentions of establishing these organizations were not to attain any political goals but were to safeguard their professional status, to protect their employments and to enhance their business communications. But in the last term Legco, these bodies have played a very active political role. Although Legco members from these functional constituencies have done a very good job, we could not predict in future how political these organizations would become and what political impact they would have on Legco. Moreover, it is doubtful whether the presence of the representatives from these professional bodies would give rise to party politics and political conflicts let alone jeopardizing the personal relationship among their own members. I do not agree with some people's suggestion to increase more seats in Legco say 70% to these professional bodies. After careful consideration I would only allow for 15 seats to be returned from functional constituencies if the total number of Legco seats is 60.
I have had in-depth deliberation on the retention of seats from electoral colleges. I am not very satisfied with the past performance of Legco members from electoral colleges. The main argument against their presence is that voters were not aware that DB Members or Municipal Councillors who they voted might become Legco Members. If the seats from electoral colleges are to be retained, the voters when electing DB Members or Municipal Councillors have to take into account the knowledge of those candidates on Legco and the role they would play in Legco.
As regards civic education, many people have the illusion that civic education is not adequately provided and widespread in Hong Kong. As a result, it is not
!
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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the ripe time in 1988 to have direct election in Legco. However, ever since in 1982 when direct election was first introduced, the candidates, the mass media, the political parties and the social welfare agencies have made great effort in promoting the level of civic education with remarkable results. Hong Kong people are now quite civic minded and they are well aware that they must think carefully and take all factors in consideration when direct election is held. Inadequacy of civic education and lack of political awareness of Hong Kong people should not be employed any more as an argument against direct election. On one occasion, a speaker used an American book on civic education as a pretext to oppose direct election in 1988. He said that direct election should only be held when such book similar to the American one was available. I quite appreciated what another speaker spoke in response to this remark. He commented that direct election was held one hundred years ago in America in the absence of this book. So I think the best way to upgrade civic education is by way of practice. Mr. Chairman, if the number of seats in Legco should be 60, then the number of appointed and official seats should be progressively reduced to zero. We should have not more 12 directly elected seats in 1988 and the number be increased gradually to 30 i.e. 50% of the total seats. I personally believe that if Hong Kong people believe China and its sincerity to let Hong Kong people govern by themselves, they will speak about wishes. On the contrary, they will keep their mouth shut. However, if we are given the false impression that China will respect the opinion of Hong Kong people, they will be tempted to express their wishes. I hope that the suggestion supported by over 130 000 of having 20% directly elected seats in Legco in 1988 will gain more support from Hong Kong people. The wishes that people of Hong Kong are keen to strive for high degree of autonomy should be conveyed clearly to the British Government as well as the Chinese Government. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-
An Appeal to the Silent Majority
Since the Green Paper on 'The 1987 Review of Developments in Representative Government' was published, hundreds of debates and seminars on this subject have been organized by the Legislative Council, District Boards, the Regional Council, the Urban Council and other non-government bodies. However, the figures recently released by the Survey Office show that only 7000-odd submissions of written comments have been received from the public and groups. The silent majority still remain silent.
What I am going to talk about today is not intended for those who would continue to take Hong Kong as their home and have shown a positive attitude, since these people have already declared their stand and shouldered a due responsibility for Hong Kong which is now at the crossroads. Today I am going to speak to the majority who have remained reticent up to now.
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