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CAN IF NECESSARY BE TAKEN BACK.
4。
THE DRAFT HAS BEEN RECAST TO TAKE THOSE POINTS INTO
ACCOUNT. AT THE MEETING WE PROPOSE TO EXAMINE THE POLITICAL AND
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DEVOLUTION APPROACH, WHICH THE PAPER
NOW ADVOCATES. PRESENTATIONALLY THERE ARE CERTAIN ADVANTAGES IN
DEVOLUTION. BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT ANY
RESUMPTION OF POWERS WOULD BE LEGALLY MORE CUMBERSOME AND
POLITICALLY MORE DIFFICULT.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
5.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS COMMENTED THAT ONE PURPOSE OF
THE PAPER SHOULD BE TO PROMOTE CAUTION ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF
DIRECT ELECTIONS. ONLY A FEW SEATS ARE INVOLVED. IT IS NOT
REALISTIC OR SENSIBLE TO SEE THEM AS A BUTTRESS OF AUTONOMY:
INDEED THEY COULD EASILY BECOME THE FULCRUM OF INSTABILITY.
6.
WE HAVE AMENDED THE PAPER, AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE
INSTRUCTED, TO MAKE IT CLEARER THAT REFERENCES TO DIRECT
ELECTIONS IMPLY IN PRACTICE THE INTRODUCTION OF A RELATIVELY
SMALL DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT INTO LEGCO. WE HAVE ALSO SOUGHT
TO REFLECT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VIEWS IN A NEW PARAGRAPH
(PARA 34).
7.
ON MATTERS OF DETAIL, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS
QUESTIONED WHETHER CERTAIN OF THE JUDGEMENTS IN PARAS 13-17 MIGHT
NOT GIVE TOO STRONG AN IMPRESSION THAT PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG
KONG IS IN FAVOUR OF DIRECT ELECTIONS. IN PARTICULAR:
(A)
(B)
(C)
HE HAS ASKED WHETHER THE REFERENCE TO QUOTE A WIDE
MEASURE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT UNQUOTE IN THE FIRST SENTENCE
OF PARA 14 MIGHT NOT BE UNDERSTATED, AND WHETHER THAT
SUPPORT MIGHT NOT BE FOR A SUBSTANTIAL APPOINTED ELEMENT:
ON THE FIFTH SENTENCE OF PARA 13 HE HAS ASKED WHETHER
QUOTE NOW FOCUSSING INCREASINGLY UNQUOTE IS NOT AN
OVERSTATEMENT:
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ON THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARA 17 HE HAS COMMENTED THAT
THIS GREATER RECOGNITION OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A STRONG
EXECUTIVE APPEARS TO REFLECT, IF ANYTHING, AGAINST DIRECT
ELECTIONS.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR FURTHER COMMENTS ON THESE
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