Humoy
word.
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community could direct themselves to an appropriate alternative
locus of authority within the Government structure such
destabilising and divisive effects could be lessened.
10.
Option (B) would meet the need to converge with the post-1997
structure. 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 what the changes in government
would mean and how such changes might affect them.
11. 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. It 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.
Governor will not be able to perform this role.
The
We
12.
In principle the advantages of option (B) are clear-cut.
need however to consider carefully the implications for our
relationship with China and the balance of influence over Hong Kong.
The Chinese Dimension
13. The introduction of a Chief Executive (Designate) some years before 1997 would be achieved successfully only in agreement with
the Chinese Government. We would need to explain to them how we envisaged that the post would fit within the Hong Kong Government
structure, how the incumbent would be selected and how powers would
be progressively delegated to him. These modifications to the Hong
Kong Government structure would without doubt be "matters relating to the smooth transfer of government" on which the two sides are
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