4
2
The 1984 White Paper also noted the following matters as needed to be considered further at a later stage:
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(a) Executive Council: the development of the Council and the possible introduction of a Ministerial system; (Paragraph 46 (j))
(b) the Governor: the general position of the
Governor. (Paragraph 46 (k))
at the
are
The 1984 White Paper dealt with government central level in Hong Kong. A number of other matters likely to be included in the 1987 Review, either for organisational reasons, or because they are already being publicly discussed, for example:
(a) improving the links between the Urban
Council and Urban District Boards; that is whether DB representatives should be elected to the Council rather than Council members be allocated to the Boards (in Regional Council the former method already applies);
(b) the powers and functions of District Boards;
(c) the timing of District Board, Legislative Council and Urban Council/Regional Council elections, which at present take place in that order within a space of twelve months, and are due again between March 1988 and March 1989.
>
Assessment of present opinion
The Governor
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It
stated was
in the 1984 White Paper that the Governor will continue to
to be
be appointed formally by the Queen until 1997 and there was strong public support for this. The White Paper said that any proposals for change in the position and role of the Governor would need to take into account the provisions of the Joint Declaration and it was stated that these important issues would be considered at a later stage. There has been little comment in Hong Kong on the position of the Governor in general, except as President of the Legislative Council (see paragraph 7 below), and his position is not expected to be raised except in that context.