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I have much pleasure in supporting the motion.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):—Madam, I rise to speak in support of the Motion before Council. Having been involved with the BLCC's work for two full years, there is not much left for me to say in public.
Chief Executive
It has become obvious that direct election of the first Chief Executive for the SAR Government is not practical but it may be possible for the subsequent or the third SAR Government.
The Grand Electoral College Idea seems to have been accepted by most, some quarters seemed to have reservation on the composition of membership of the college. If that is the case, let us concentrate on the composition of membership.
Some have accepted the Grand Electoral College Idea for the first two elections only while the third one must be switched to election by universal franchise. This can be acceptable, because after 10 years of experience, the people should be able to elect a leader through direct election.
Legislative Council
No one seems to argue that ultimately, all members should be elected through direct election. To start with, the first legislature should have 'X' % of directly elected membership, 'X' varies from 25 to 50—the so-called trigger point, I believe a compromise can be reached between 25 and 50, the suggestion of 33% could be a solution, or even 40%....
Functional Constituency Idea is only an interim measure, the proportion of such constituencies should be reduced gradually as the directly elected memberships increase. The same applies to members elected through grand electoral college, if anyone should be so elected at all. The only valid argument that supports such exercise is to retain some good senior (or top) civil servants in the legislature to answer questions and to explain policies.
Consultation period will finish in less than 20 days, I sincerely appeal to members of the public to express their views now without any further hesitation and I am prepared to meet anyone who has any new idea to express so that I can relate it to the BLCC which will in turn convey to the BLDC.
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):—At this point, I like to rise to say that the next speaker should be Miss Cecilia YEUNG. But we have a sad news that her elder brother died and she would rather not speak. I am sure you will join me in offering our condolence to Miss YEUNG. We go on to the next speaker, Dr. Philip Kwok.
DR. PHILIP C. K. KWOK (in English):—Madam Chairman, I rise to support the motion and I would like to make a few comments.
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1. I would wish to express my view on one issue concerning the Basic Law.
2. The issue is the election of the Chief Executive of the HK SAR Government for the period immediately after 1997.
3. I feel that one must approach this question in a rational and pragmatic manner. Emotional and idealistic approaches will bring more harm than good.
4. While agreeing wholeheartedly that the Chief Executive ought to be elected, I strongly oppose the idea of implementing the one-man-one-vote election process at 1997 and for the period immediately thereafter.
5. Election by universal suffrage must be the ultimate mode of electing the Chief Executive of the SAR Government; but this must be achieved by a gradual process and not by imposition at this stage.
6. My reasons against the introduction of direct election to choose the Chief Executive in that initial period are as follows.
7. First of all, the period immediately after 1997 will be one of extreme political sensitivity. People will be apprehensive, and their confidence relatively fragile.
8. Any major territory-wide political activities (like that of the direct election of the Chief Executive), bringing controversies and confrontations out in the open are extremely risky. The stability and prosperity of Hong Kong can easily be adversely affected.
9. Secondly, the merit of electing individuals, who are free agents, with no backings from substantial and well-established political organizations (or political parties) by popular vote is questionable.
10. The exercise may simply resemble a popularity contest, with the winner making the most appealing promises, but which are beyond his power to deliver.
11. Thirdly, a decision to have a territory-wide one-man-one-vote system to elect the Chief Executive in 1997 will immediately lead to a frantic effort to build up political organizations for the scramble for power.
12. And I don't see how China can sit back and play no active role when such rapid and unprecedented political development is taking place. However, I believe that this is a situation both the Chinese officials and most of us in Hong Kong are eager to avoid.
13. We will all be adjusting to a new situation, sailing in uncharted waters, and I can only repeat my plea that we ought to proceed cautiously and prudently, step by step. We ought to sail with a ship which has proven to be reliable a little while longer, with all her leaks and imperfections, instead of boarding a totally untested vessel, which may not stand up to the rough and pounding sea and sink.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):—Madam Chairman, I rise to support the motion.
We are having this debate, the last debate of any public body in Hong Kong on the Basic Law, for two reasons. Reason number one is that we are all, as
Page 54 of 182
100
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I have much pleasure in supporting the motion.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):—Madam, I rise to speak in support of the Motion before Council. Having involved with the BLCC'S work for two full years, there is not much left for me to say in public.
Chief Executive
It has became obvious that direct election of the first Chief Executive for the SAR Government is not practical but it may be possible for the subsequent or the third SAR Government.
The Grand Electoral College Idea seems to have been accepted by most, some quarters seemed to have reservation on the composition of membership of the college. If that is the case, let us concentate on the composition of membership.
Some have accepted the Grand Electoral College Idea for the first two elections only while the third one must be switched to election by universal franchise. This can be acceptable, because after 10 years of experience, the people should be able to elect a leader through direct election.
Legislative Council
No one seem to argue that ultimately, all members should be elected through direct election. To start with, the first legislature should have 'X' % of directly elected membership, 'X' varies from 25 to 50-the so-called triger point, I believe a compromise can be reached between 25 and 50, the suggestion of 33% could be a solution, or even 40%....
Functional Constituency Idea is only an interim measure, the proportion of such constituencies should be reduced gradually as the directly elected member- ships increases. The same applies to members elected through grand electeral college, if anyone should be so elected at all. The only valid arguement that supports such exercise is to retain some good senior (or top) civil servant in the legislature to answer questions and to explain policies.
Consultation period will finish in less than 20 days, I sincerely appeal to members of the public to express their views now without any further hesitation and I am prepared to meet anyone who has any new idea to express so that I can relate it to the BLCC which will in turn convey to the BLDC.
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):-At this point, I like to rise to say that the next speaker should be Miss Cecilia YEUNG. But we have a sad news that her elder brother died and she would rather not speak. I am sure you will join me to offering our condolence to Miss YEUNG. We go on to the next speaker, Dr. Philip Kwok.
DR. PHILIP C. K. Kwok (in English):-Madam Chairman, I rise to support the motion and I would like to make a few comments.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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101
1. I would wish to express my view on one issue concerning the Basic Law. 2. The issue is the election of the Chief Executive of the HK SAR
Government for the period immediately after 1997.
3. I feel that one must approach this question is a rational and pragmatic manner. Emotional and idealistic approaches will bring more harm than good.
4. While agreeing wholeheartedly that the Chief Executive ought to be elected, I strongly oppose the idea of implementing the one-man-one-vote election process at 1997 and for the period immediately thereafter.
5. Election by universal suffrage must be the ultimate mode of electing the Chief Executive of the SAR Government; but this must be achieved by a gradual process and not by imposition at this stage.
6. My reasons against the introduction of direct election to choose the Chief
Executive in that initial period are as follows.
7. First of all, the period immediately after 1997 will be one of extreme political sensitivety. People will be apprehensive, and their confidence relatively fragile.
8. Any major territory-wide political activities (like that of the direct election of the Chief Executive), bringing controversies and confrontations out in the open are extremely risky. The stability and prosperity of Hong Kong can easily be adversely affected.
9. Secondly, the merit of electing individuals, who are free agents, with no backings from substantial and well-established political organizations (or political parties) by popular vote is questionable.
10. The exercise may simply resemble a popularity contest, with the winner making the most appealing promises, but which are beyond his power to deliver.
11. Thirdly, a decision to have a territory-wide one-man-one-vote system to elect the Chief Executive in 1997 will immediately lead to a frentic effort to build up political organizations for the scramble for power.
12. And I don't see now China can sit back and play no active role when such rapid and unprecedented political development is taking place. However, I believe that this is a situation both the Chinese officials and most of us in Hong Kong are eager to avoid.
13. We will all be adjusting to a new situation, sailing in unchatered waters, and I can only repeat my plea that we ought to proceed caustionly and prudently, step by step. We ought to sail with a ship which has proven to be reliable a little while longer, with all her leaks and imperfections, instead of boarding a totally untested vessel, which may not stand up to the rough and pounding sea and sink.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):-Madam Chairman, I rise to support the motion.
We are having this debate, the last debate of any public body in Hong Kong on the Basic Law, for two reasons. Reason number one is that we are all, as
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