CONFIDENTIAL
-15-
Council,
of some
the "aura" of power inherent in the
office of Governor pass to the new President of Leg Co?
The President should be an impartial person and should not
become
a
focus of power.
It
should
be possible
to
arrange
his terms of appointment
and
duties to avoid
that.
Should he have a vote and/or a casting vote?
Most parliaments seem to provide these for their Chairmen
or Speakers; there is no particular
reason why they
context
-
except
should be provided in the Hong Kong
perhaps a casting vote, to be exercised in favour of the
status quo?
Terms of appointment of President
20.
It might not, initially, be a full-time job;
but he should hold no other public office. An appropriate
honorarium, protection of the office as for a judge of the
High Court and so on,
would be necessary.
He could be
appointed for a term of years, or until a certain age, and
could be removed only by a specified substantial majority
vote of the Council.
CONFIDENTIAL