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how comes the problem of convergence as a result of introduction of direct election in 1988?
Should element of direct election be introduced into the Legislative Council next year, the composition of the Legislative Council will be made up of the following 4 categories:
1.
2.
3.
Direct Election by geographical constituencies
The advantage of direct election by geographical constituencies is that the voters will be more familiar with the members elected and the elected members can be more directly accountable to their respective constituencies. There should ideally be five geographical constituencies, namely, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon East, Kowloon West, New Territories East, New Territories West and the Islands.
Indirect Election by functional constituencies and Electoral college As there is not much difference between the previous appointment system, and indirect election by functional constituencies and electoral college the respective seats should therefore be maintained. Appointed Members
The number of appointed members in the three future Legco elections should be progressively reduced and replaced by directly elected members in order to conform with the provision of the Sino-British Joint Declaration that there will not be appointed members after 1997. To replace the previous role played by the official members as channels and accountable for those administrative affairs in the Legislative Council, the Legislative Council can partly adopt the system of functional select committee next year. The seven working groups of the unofficial members can be further developed as a number of functional select committees, each to be responsible for one aspect of Hong Kong's internal affairs, namely economy, finance, industry and trade, education, housing, land, health and welfare, and transport. Representatives from relevant executive bodies should be invited to participate. Policy drafts should be presented to all members in the open meeting by the chairmen of each functional select committee who should also answer the questions raised by the members.
Mr. Chairman, I favour the introduction of direct election for the Legco in 1988 with 10 to 15 seats, and suggest that after the election, the system of functional select committee of the Legislative Council should be implemented as soon as possible.
For those silent majority of the public, I would like to urge them to read the Green Paper and express their views. As former Secretary for Home Affairs Mr. Denis BRAY said before retirement, 'You must treat politics seriously, or otherwise you will be governed by those who do.'
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks I support the motion.
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MRS. CHOW CHEUNG WAI-PING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, since there is not enough time and in order not to repeat what other Members have said, I would speak very briefly. Firstly, I support the proposal of having direct election in Legco in 1988. As many colleagues have already spoken on this, I would only like to supplement the point concerning civic education. I do not agree that Hong Kong people are not civic minded. In the past 40 odd years, the generation of the youth had not been taught about politics and civic education. However, in the past 2 or 3 years, people as well as many political groups have been discussing politics frequently and many political parties have been set up accordingly. This reflects that there is an escalation of political awareness of the people. So I do not think it is right to say that Hong Kong people are not mature in politics. Moreover, Hong Kong is a commercial society and had the background of regarding politics as a taboo and that is why people had been apathetic about politics. At the present time, I think the political awareness of the people is rising reasonably and I have the confidence that by 1988, the voters will have the ability to judge. As regards the age of voters, I support the idea of keeping it at 18. After 6 or 9 years of free and compulsory education or 11 years of subsidized education, a youth of 18 will have a good sense of judgment and will not be less than that of a person of 80. I am confident that on this basis, they will have sufficient wisdom to choose the right representatives. Finally, I must express my strong appreciation of Mr. K. K. FUNG's analysis on whether we should have direct election in 1988. I agree that it is not a question of winning or losing. If we do not have direct election in 1988, it cannot be said that democracy will have died. If after scientific analysis by the Survey Office, it is concluded that it is not appropriate to have direct election in 1988, I hope everyone should adopt a democratic and open approach to look at the matter and should not blame or accuse those who have different political opinion from us. There are many different means to achieve the same target. At the present stage, against this background if we do not have direct election in 1988, I don't think we should be discouraged and upset. Thank you.
MISS FOK PUI-YEE (in Cantonese): Being the continuation of the White Paper on 'The Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong' published in 1984, the Green Paper on 'The 1987 Review of Developments in Representative Government' should carry an in-depth discussion on the structure and organization of the Legislative Council. The government, however, has included in it unrelated issues like District Boards and the practical aspects of elections. As a result, the Green Paper is made complicated and abstruse with a content doubly strenuous and boring for the silent majority to read. On the contrary, only a small coverage is given to the key problem - election of the Legislative Council. This indicates that the government has an axe to grind.
1988 should be a good time to introduce gradually direct election in the Legislative Council. Conforming to the principles of human rights and equal participation in politics, direct election can encourage the public to take part in social affairs while promoting civic consciousness. With public participation,
132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
how comes the problem of convergence as a result of introduction of direct
election in 1988?
Should element of direct election be introduced into the Legislative Council next year, the composition of the Legislative Council will be made up of the following 4 categories:
1.
2.
3.
Direct Election by geographical constituencies
The advantage of direct election by geographical constituencies is that the voters will be more familiar with the members elected and the elected members can be more directly accountable to their respective constituen- cies. There should ideally be five geographical constituencies, namely, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon East, Kowloon West, New Territories East, New Territories West and the Islands.
Indirect Election by functional constituencies and Electoral college As there is not much difference between the previous appointment system, and indirect election by functional constituencies and electoral college the respective seats should therefore be maintained. Appointed Members
The number of appointed members in the three future Legco elections should be progressively reduced and replaced by directly elected members in order to conform with the provision of the Sino-British Joint Declaration that there will not be appointed members after 1997. To replace the previous role played by the official members as channels and accountable for those administrative affairs in the Legislative Council, the Legislative Council can partly adopt the system of functional select committee next year. The seven working groups of the unofficial members can be further developed as a number of functional select committees, each to be responsible for one aspect of Hong Kong's internal affairs, namely economy, finance, industry and trade, education, housing, land, health and welfare, and transport. Representatives from relevant executive bodies should be invited to participate. Policy drafts should be presented to all members in the open meeting by the chairmen of each functional select committee who should also answer the questions raised by the members.
Mr. Chairman, I favour the introduction of direct election for the Legco in 1988 with 10 to 15 seats, and suggest that after the election, the system of functional select committee of the Legislative Council should be implemented as soon as possible.
For those silent majority of the public, I would like to urge them to read the Green Paper and express their views. As former Secretary for Home Affairs Mr. Denis BRAY said before retirement, 'You must treat politics seriously, or otherwise you will be governed by those who do.'
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks I support the motion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 71 of 185
133
MRS. CHOW CHEUNG WAI-PING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, since there is not enough time and in order not to repeat what other Members have said, I would speak very briefly. Firstly, I support the proposal of having direct election in Legco in 1988. As many colleagues have already spoken on this, I would only like to supplement the point concerning civic education. I do not agree that Hong Kong people are not civic minded. In the past 40 odd years, the generation of the youth had not been taught about politics and civic education. However, in the past 2 or 3 years, people as well as many political groups have been discussing politics frequently and many political parties have been set up accordingly. This reflects that there is an escalation of political awareness of the people. So I do not think it is right to say that Hong Kong people are not mature in politics. Moreover, Hong Kong is a commercial society and had the background of regarding politics as a taboo and that is why people had been apathetic about politics. At the present time, I think the political awareness of the people is rising reasonably and I have the confidence that by 1988, the voters will have the ability to judge. As regards the age of voters, I support the idea of keeping it at 18. After 6 or 9 years of free and compulsory education or 11 years of subsidized education, a youth of 18 will have a good sense of judgment and will not be less than that of a person of 80. I am confident that on this basis, they will have sufficient wisdom to choose the right representatives. Finally, I must express my strong apppreciation of Mr. K. K. FUNG's analysis on whether we should have direct election in 1988. I agree that it is not a question of winning or losing. If we do not have direct clection in 1988, it cannot be said that democracy will have died. If after scientific analysis by the Survey Office, it is concluded that it is not appropriate to have direct election in 1988, I hope everyone should adopt a democratic and open approach to look at the matter and should not blame or accuse those who have different political opinion from us. There are many different means to achieve the same target. At the present stage, against this background if we do not have direct election in 1988, I don't think we should be discouraged and upset. Thank you.
MISS FOK PUI-YEE (in Cantonese):-Being the continuation of the White Paper on 'The Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong' published in 1984, the Green Paper on 'The 1987 Review of Developments in Representative Government' should carry an indepth discussion on the structure and organization of the Legislative Council. The government, however, has included in it unrelated issues like District Boards and the practical aspects of elections. As a result, the Green Paper is made complicated and abstruse with a content doubly strenuous and boring for the silent majority to read. On the contrary, only a small coverage is given to the key problem-election of the Legislative Council. This indicates that the government has an axe to grind.
1988 should be a good time to introduce gradually direct election in the Legislative Council. Conforming to the principles of human rights and equal participation in politics, direct election can encourage the public to take part in social affairs while promoting civic consciousness. With public participation,
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