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A DEVELOPMENT, WHICH COULD BE DESTABILISING.
HOWEVER THE DEBATE
IS NOW FOCUSSING INCREASINGLY ON THE TIMING OF THE INTRODUCTION
OF A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT, (ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT THIS WILL
COME AT SOME POINT BEFORE 1997) AND ON THE PROPORTION OF
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE SELECTED BY THIS METHOD. THERE
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN ACCEPTANCE, EVEN AMONG MANY OF THE MORE
CONVERSATIVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPINGS, THAT THE DIRECT
ELECTION OF UP TO 25 PER CENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE
TOLERABLE: AND MIGHT NEUTRALISE DEMANDS FOR EVEN MORE RADICAL
CHANGE. HOWEVER BUSINESS GROUPS ARE IN PRIVATE BECOMING
INCREASINGLY DOUBTFUL ABOUT THE WISDOM OF INTRODUCING A DIRECTLY
ELECTED ELEMENT IN 1988.
15.
DESPITE RECENT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE ROLE OF
APPOINTED MEMBERS THERE IS STILL A WIDE MEASURE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT
FOR RETENTION OF A SIGNIFICANT APPOINTED ELEMENT IN THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE SYSTEM OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS BASED ON
FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES IS ALSO GENERALLY SUPPORTED, AND THERE
ARE CALLS FOR ITS FURTHER EXPANSION.
10.
THERE IS LESS UNANIMITY OF VIEW ON THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
AS A BASIS FOR INDIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND TWO REGIONAL COUNCILS WILL
PROBABLY SUPPORT ITS RETENTION, BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THEM WITH
DIRECT ACCESS TO MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. HOWEVER
THERE IS CONCERN THAT MEMBERSHIP OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS TOO
NARROWLY-BASED. IF THE CONCEPT IS TO BE RETAINED THERE IS A
WIDESPREAD FEELING THAT THE SYSTEM OF ELECTION SHOULD BE CHANGED
TO AVOID THE UNPLEASANT FACTIONAL RIVALRIES WITHIN DISTRICT
BOARDS WHICH DEVELOPED IN 1985.
17.
THE QUESTION OF THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ROLES
OF THE GOVERNOR AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS BEING ACTIVELY DEBATED IN THE MEDIA AND BY
ACADEMICS AND POLITICAL COMMENTATORS. IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE
ISSUES INVOLVED ARE WIDELY UNDERSTOOD WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IF
THE PRESENT POSITION IS TO BE CHANGED, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO
CONSIDER CAREFULLY HOW TO ALLOCATE THE POWERS NOW EXERCISED BY
THE GOVERNOR AS PRESIDENT, WHICH INCLUDE POWERS EXERCISED IN THE
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