M
RECRIOTED
(B) THE FUTURE POLITICAL STRUCTURE SHOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD BE ABLE
TO RECONCILE THE INTERESTS OF DIFFERENT CLASSES AND AVOID SHARP
CONFRONTATIONS. THE IMPORTANT POINTS WERE, THEREFORE, TO ENSURE
THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER SHOULD BE SUCH AS TO AVOID EXTREME
DEVELOPMENTS, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLAT I'VE
AUTHORITIES WERE COMPOSED OF MODERATE AND CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE THE OVERALL HK INTEREST IN MIND. THE MORE FEASIBLE METHOD
APPEARED TO BE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO. BE COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF DIFFERENT CLASSES, DIRECTLY ELECTED BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES,
IN APPROPRIATE PROPORTIONS. ALTERNATIVELY, SOME MEMBERS COULD BE
DIRECTLY ELECTED BY THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG, AND SOME BY ELECTION
BY THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. AS REGARDS THE SELECTION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE BEST MEANS WOULD BE FORE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE(S) TO BE SELECTED BY THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND
THEN TO BE ELECTED BY THE WHOLE POPULACE BY AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SO ELECTED WOULD BE MORE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL
INTERESTS AND CLASSES.
(C) REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO LOCAL POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF THE WEST (SIC). SINCE HK WOULD BE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PTS CHIEF
EXECUTIVE COULD ONLY BE APPOINTED OR REMOVED BY THE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT. THE EXECUTIVE MUST HAVE SUFFICIENT POWER TO MAKE
DECISIONS WITHOUT BEING CONSTRAINED BY THE ENDLESS DISPUTES OF
PARTY POLITICS. THE POLITICAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE DEMOCRATIC ON MAJOR
POLICIES AND ISSUES, BUT ON DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION, THE
EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES MUST HAVE A FREE HAND.
(D) THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO HK'S SUCCESS SHOULD BE RETAINED.
THESE INCLUDE THE HIGH EFFICIENCY OF GOVERNMENT, LOW TAXATION,
PROTECTION BY LAW OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM, EMPLOYMENT OF EXPERTS, AND THE SETTING UP
OF OVER 300 CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES. THESE SHOULD ALL BE
MAINTAINED, APART FROM THOSE LAWS AND PERSONAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH
BEAR A COLONIAL REFERENCE.ALTHOUGH LOCAL PEOPLE MUST BE N
LEADING POSITIONS, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE ALL FOREIGN EXPERTS. POLITICAL REFORMS MUST BE BENEFICIAL TO HK'S PROSPERITY
AND STABILITY: OTHERWISE CHANGES SHOULD BE KEPT TO THE MINIMUM.
THE PRESENT CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM MUST BE MAINTAINED, AND THE BASIC
LAW MUST HAVE REGARD TO THE VIEWS OF CIVIL SERVANTS (INCLUDING
EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS).
4. COPY OF THE ARTICLE, WITH TRANSLATION, WOULD FOLLOW BY BAG.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD
PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
RESTRICTED