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identified in 1992 to be re-confirmed in office, if he had
demonstrated his ability to take on the job, or alternatively
replaced by a more suitable candidate.
B.
The Position of the Post in the Hong Kong Government
3. It is proposed that the post of Deputy Governor should be
created for the Chief Executive (Designate). He would fit in the
Hong Kong Government hierarchy between the Governor and the Chief
Secretary. His post would be a temporary additional one, created for political rather than strictly organisational purposes, and
assuming powers only from the governor. The next echelon of posts
in the Hong Kong Government, those of the Chief Secretary, Financial
Secretary, and Attorney General, would continue essentially
unchanged both before and after 1997.
C. The Powers of the Chief Executive
4. It would be necessary to define most carefully the powers of the
Chief Executive (Designate), and to ensure that he was fully aware
of the powers exercisable by the Governor.
(i) Delegation or Devolution of Powers
5. Power could be vested in the Chief Executive (Designate) by delegation or by devolution. Delegation would involve the
allocation of powers with the right to withdraw them at any time. The basic instruments under which power was conferred on the
Governor would not be amended. Devolution would involve a more
substantive transfer of powers, probably by the Letters Patent which
would have to be further amended for the Governor to resume those
powers.
6. Under the Joint Declaration HMG will be responsible for the
administration of Hong Kong until 30 June 1997. HMG must retain the means to exercise that responsibility. The Chinese would no doubt
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