GRS 370 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2168
OF 150402Z OCTOBER 35
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
203
TOP COPY
ник осll
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
15 OCT 1985
FROM GOVERNOR FOR GALSWORTHY.
(A)
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS.
192
SK OFFICER
INDE
PA
MY TELNO 2074 REFERS TO THE REDUCTION OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS FROM
16 TO 10 IN THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE REDISTRIBUTION OF
BUSINESS. SOME OF THIS IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD (E.G.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO SPEAK FOR SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES.
S.H.W. FOR D.M.H.S., AND S.E.M. FOR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND
COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR) ALTHOUGH IT PLACES VERY WIDE
RESPONSIBILITIES ON SOME OF THE REMAINING OFFICIALS. FOR EXAMPLE,
REDISTRIBUTING THE SUBJECTS FOR WHICH THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY
IS RESPONSIBLE IS PROVING COMPLICATED.
2. WE HAVE LOOKED AT POSSIBLE WAYS OF BRINGING HEADS OF
DEPARTMENTS AND SECRETARIES WHO ARE NOT OFFICIAL MEMBERS BEFORE
THE COUNCIL TO REPLY TO QUESTIONS. WE FOUND HOWEVER NO PRECEDENT
AND WE APPRECIATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF NON-MEMBERS
SPEAKING IN THE COUNCIL. HOWEVER THE COMPOSITION OF OUR
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH ONLY TEN OFFICIALS CREATES A RATHER
UNUSUAL SITUATION.
3. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THEMSELVES HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THIS
AND IN THE INTERESTS OF PROVIDING THE FULLEST ACCOUNT OF
GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC BY THOSE RESPONSIBLE, WE SHOULD
LIKE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM MORE FULLY WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
WOULD MINISTERS SEE OBJECTION OR DIFFICULTY TO HONG KONG
INTRODUCING ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS SOME APPROPRIATE SYSTEM, IF
IT WERE ACCEPTABLE TO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. FOR EXAMPLE, STANDING
ORDERS MIGHT PROVIDE THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF QUESTION TIME, THE CHIEF SECRETARY WITH THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL, COULD INTRODUCE THE APPROPRIATE POLICY SECRETARY TO REPLY TO ALLOCATED QUESTIONS. WE
SHOULD WISH TO TAKE CARE TO PRESERVE THE NATURE OF QUESTION TIME, THAT, IS, THAT IT SHOULD NOT BECOME A SORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE
OR MINI-DEBATING SESSION.
4. A FULL REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS (WHICH WOULD REQUIRE APPROPRIATE
AMENDMENTS) IS ANY EVENT DUE TO BE CARRIED OUT AFTER THE SESSION
HAS BEGUN ON 30TH OCTOBER.
YOUDE
LIMITED
но/нко MR. WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
AB