IS IN PROGRESS. THERE IS ALREADY STRONG EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST
THAT A STRENGTHENING OF THE ELECTED ELEMENT WOULD BE SUPPORTED.
AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE PROPORTION OF ELECTED MEMBERS IN DISTRICT BOARDS COULD BE MADE IN EARLY 1984. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC DISCUSSION BEFORE NECESSARY CHANGES
WERE MADE IN THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
THE CREATION OF A SECOND REGIONAL COUNCIL WITH ELECTED
MEMBERS, COULD BE PROPOSED EITHER AT THE SAME TIME OR IN THE
GOVERNORS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE AUTUMN OF
1984. THIS SECOND REGIONAL COUNCIL FILLS A GAP IN THE PATTERN OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION WOULD BE STRAIGHT FORWARD, SINCE THE ELECTIONS WOULD BE ON A FRANCHISE AND CONSTITUENCY
BASIS ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
24. THERE WOULD THEN NEED TO BE A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLEGIATE ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE
AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS AND THE EVENTUAL ELECTION OF THE GOVERNOR.
THIS TOO WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION BEFORE
THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVÉ
COUNCIL. THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS ELECTIVE PROCESS WOULD NEED TO BE
PROGRESSIVE, IN ORDER TO CONSOLIDATE EACH STAGE BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT. IT COULD REASONABLY BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS
DECADE. SOME CHANGES COULD BE BROUGHT IN AT EARLIER STAGES, E.G. THE ELECTION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF ITS OWN SPEAKER, AND THE
INREASING APPOINTMENT OF LEGCO MEMBERS FROM AMONG ELECTED MEMBERS
OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE REGIONAL COUNCILS. THE FORMAL REQUIREMENT
FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ACCEPT THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
COULD ALSO BE INTRODUCED AS SOON AS IT HAD BECOME AN ELECTED BODY
ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO RESERVE THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY
IN RESPECT OF DEFENCE, SECURITY AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS AS LONG AS
HONG KONG REMAINED A DEPENDENT TERRITORY. YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LUREMMEND
COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOCEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
ED/PLANNING STAFF
D/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD (YR FLOWER)
RESEARCH DEPT(UR WALKER )
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/R LUCE
PS/FUS
SIR J BULLAED
MR GIFFAFD
MR DONALD
MR TRIGA
SIR C TICKELL
7
SECRET
INDUSTRY
COPIES TO:
(VIA ADR)
NEWS DEPT
VR. ROBERTS
MR. BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
SIR A PARSONS
VR YARTIN
MR GOODALL
HF BRENNAN
17
ASSESSMENT STAFF
CABINET OFFICE CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
H