5. ON PARA 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM, OUR OBJECT IS INDEED TO HOLD OUT THE PROSPECT OF CHANGE BEYOND 1992 IF PUBLIC OPINION FAVOURS IT. BUT SINCE WE SHALL BY THAT DATE HAVE STARTED THE TRANSITION WE SHOULD NOT GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE COMMITTING OURSELVES TO INDULGE IN FURTHER EXPERIMENT. WE HAVE, THEREFORE, NOTED THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT BUT NOT SOUGHT TO BE SPECIFIC ON THE SUBJECT.
6. ON THE DETAILED POINTS IN PARA 6 OF YOUR TELEGRAM, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
(A) WE HAVE AMENDED THIS PARA TO MAKE IT CLEARER. WE THINK IT IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN THE REFERENCE TO ''GOVERNMENT BY CONSENSUS''
(B) WE THINK THE DRAFT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR, GIVEN OUR COMMENTS
ABOVE:
(C) WE HAVE INCLUDED A MORE DETAILED JUSTIFICATION:
(D) THERE ARE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE GOVERNOR HAVING A: PERMANENT SEAT IN LEGCO. WE HAVE PROVIDED IN THE NEW DRAFT FOR HIM TO BE ABLE BOTH TO ADDRESS AND TO ATTEND THE COUNCIL WHERE HE CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY. WE SHOULD PREFER TO LEAVE THE DISCUSSION ON HIS EXACT ROLE (EG WHETHER HE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO APPEAR ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS: WHETHER HE SHOULD HAVE A VOTE: ETC) TO CONSULTATION WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN NOW AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW PRESIDING OFFICER IN 1986. WE SHOULD NOT SEEK TO CROSS EVERY T AND DOT EVERY 1 AT THIS STAGE. BUT THERE IS A STRONG ARGUMENT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR RETAINING A SEAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ONCE HE CEASES TO PRESIDE, AND WHILST HE STILL RETAINS AUTHORITY UNDER THE LETTERS PATENT TO REFUSE TO ASSENT TO BILLS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL.
(E) WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT ''THEORETICAL OTHER ARRANGEMENT YOU HAVE IN MIND. THE ONLY OTHER PEOPLE WHO COULD ANSWER FOR POLICY, INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ETC. WOULD BE MEMBERS OF EXCO THEMSELVES AND THAT WOULD MEAN THE INTRODUCTION OF A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM:
(F) WE AGREE THAT THE CBF WOULD NEED TO LEAVE THE COUNCIL WELL BEFORE 1997. AT THE SAME TIME WE DO NOT WISH TO MAKE THE CHANGE TOO EARLY BECAUSE A LOT WILL BE READ INTO IT. PEOPLE WILL FEAR THE PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BRITISH GARRISON. THE CBF COULD NOT BE ''QUIETLY'' PHASED OUT. WE HAVE HOWEVER INTRODUCED THE QUALIFICATION THAT HE SHOULD REMAIN FOR THE PRESENT TO INDICATE THAT HIS PRESENCE IS
NOT PERMANENT:
(G) WE HAVE DELETED THIS PARAGRAPH AS IT IS NOT DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE GREEN PAPER:
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