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14.
DESPITE RECENT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE ROLE OF
APPOINTED MEMBERS THERE IS STILL A WIDE MEASURE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT
FOR RETENTION OF AN 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.
15.
THERE IS LESS UNANIMITY OF VIEW ON THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
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 AND HAS RESULTED IN THE ELECTION OF TOO MANY
RADICALS (SUCH AS SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS) TO THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL. IF THE CONCEPT IS TO BE RETAINED THERE IS WIDESPREAD
FEELING THAT THE SYSTEM OF ELECTION SHOULD BE CHANGED TO AVOID
THE UNPLEASANT FACTIONAL RIVALRIES WITHIN DISTRICT BOARDS WHICH
DEVELOPED IN 1985.
16.
THE QUESTIONS OF SEPARATION OF POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATURE AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE
ROLES OF THE GOVERNOR AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE AND AS PRESIDENT
OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE 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 BRITISH PARLIAMENT BY THE SPEAKER, THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY AND THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT THEMSELVES.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT PUBLIC INTEREST IN CHANGES TO
THE COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS ANY GREATER THAN IN
1984. IF ANYTHING, THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREATER RECOGNITION OF
THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A STRONG EXECUTIVE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING FIRM
LEADERSHIP AND EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION.
17.
THE PROBLEM OF COMPATIBILITY
18.
THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND ITS
FIRST ANNEX CONTAIN A NUMBER OF GENERAL PROVISIONS ABOUT THE
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