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The Governor as President of the Legislative Council
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July 1984)
course,
It was originally proposed (in
proposed (in the Green Paper of that the Governor should be replaced, in due by a presiding officer elected by
by the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council from among their Own number. Such a change could be introduced progressively in two stages. For example, the first presiding officer might be appointed by the Governor after consultation with the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, but thereafter the presiding officer might be elected by the members
members of the Legislative Council. In the White Paper it was noted that although the proposal to replace the Governor as presiding officer was, on the whole, reasonably well received the general view was in favour of making no significant change in the immediate future.
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Governor
There is however a potential conflict, which has been commented on in the press between the role of Governor as Chief Executive and as President of the Council. As Chief Executive he is reponsible for the policies of the government: yet he sits as President in the Legislative Council where those policies are discussed. The President should play an impartial role. The position is unusual and could be avoided by the proposal Unofficial Member should sit as President.
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therefore that an
Annual
The Governor would, as the Green Paper noted, continue to attend the Council to deliver his Annual Policy Address. The Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, Attorney General and other senior officials would continue to speak on matters of government business in the Council as they do now.
Executive Council
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and
Executive Council is working satisfactorily, there is no significant demand for changes in either the method of operation of the Executive Council or of selection of its members, or for a move towards ministerial system. There is a good deal of confused public expression about what exactly a ministerial system is or how it might work. It is generally accepted that models from other constitutions are not necessarily appropriate to the Hong Kong situation, and that Hong Kong should build on its well-tried effective system.
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