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11.
OPTION (B) MIGHT INVOLVE ACTION IN TWO STAGES BEFORE
1997. THE POST OF DEPUTY GOVERNOR COULD BE CREATED AND FILLED
WITHIN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN THE EARLY 1990S. THE POWERS
WHICH WILL BE EXERCISED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTER 1997 WOULD
BE GRADUALLY DELEGATED OR DEVOLVED TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE POST
FROM THE GOVERNOR. THE GOVERNOR WOULD RETAIN ULTIMATE AUTHORITY AND SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HMG, FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND SECURITY. NEARER 1997 IT WOULD BE FILLED BY A PERSON, SELECTED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE,
WHO COULD BRIDGE THE GAP AND HOLD OFFICE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTER
1997.
12.
OPTION (B) WOULD HELP TO ENSURE CONVERGENCE WITH THE
POST-1997 GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND MEET THE NEED FOR A SMOOTH
TRANSITION. IT WOULD INDICATE TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE IN ADVANCE
THE WAY IN WHICH THE TRANSITION WOULD BE HANDLED. IT WOULD
REDUCE APPREHENSION. IN PARTICULAR IT WOULD ENABLE THE IMPORTANT
MIDDLE AND MANAGERIAL CLASSES TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND EFFECT
OF THE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WHICH WOULD BE IN
PROSPECT.
13.
IT
THE CREATION OF A POST OF DEPUTY GOVERNOR WOULD PROVIDE
TIME AND A FOCUS FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
WHICH MUST BE MADE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSITION.
WOULD ACCUSTOM MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE, FIRST TO THE EXISTENCE OF THE
POST AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE PERSON OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
(DESIGNATE) BEFORE THE TRANSITION OF GOVERNMENT TOOK PLACE. IT
WOULD GIVE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (DESIGNATE) TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE
PROCESSES OF GOVERNING AND TO ESTABLISH HIS AUTHORITY. THERE IS
ALSO LIKELY TO BE AN INCREASING NEED IN THE MORE POLITICAL
ATMOSPHERE OF THE 1990S FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE A LEAD IN PRESENTING
GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MORE GENERALLY IN THE PUBLIC AREA. THE GOVERNOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM
THIS ROLE.
14.0
IN PRINCIPLE THE ADVANTAGES OF OPTION (B) ARE CLEAR-CUT.
WE NEED HOWEVER TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA AND OUR OBJECTIVE OF SECURING THE MAXIMUM
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