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to junior ministers than to backbenchers; and the appointment of Unofficial Ministers would be a
logical extension of the existing system, making for little real change but for improved appearances.
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It
would also be a spur for officials in the Hong Kong
Government, who would not be displaced. Appointments
would be for a fixed term, renewable at the Governor's
discretion.
2.2 Sir Murray thought such appointments would not
give rise to an Independence movement. He also
thought their introduction would be acceptable to the Chinese Government, so long as it was carefully
presented and the Chinese were informed at an early
stage. He appreciated that his proposals might not
go far enough to satisfy all sectors of UK
Parliamentary opinion: presentation would again be
very important, as well as the character of the
appointments.
2.3
The Governor and HMG would retain control over
legislation. However, Unofficial Ministers would
have some limited power to do things which might offend UK public or parliamentary opinion. The
Governor's relationship with Unofficial Ministers would necessarily be different from his relationship
be with Officials: the former would/věry conscious of
the pressures of local public opinion and would resign rather than push through unpopular policies. On the other hand, UMELCO members were already used to popular pressures and had shown themselves to be
generally level-headed.
2.4
proposals
Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed that and bould be bere acceptable in principle,
further discussione
ssione between officials.
Sir Murray's, They would need further elatuation, subject to
In particular,
the constitutional balance, which would leave the
ultimate powers of control in the hands of the Governor and HMG, must be maintained. He also agreed on the importance of presentation: the Chinese should be informed (but not consulted) about what was being done; and its significance for UK public and parliamentary opinion should be explained to them.
/2.5 ...
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