OCMIAN 9945
CONFIDENTIAL
DD 30020OZ HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
291700Z MAY
GPS 268
CONFIDENTIAL
39945
1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 300200Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1010
OF 29170OZ MAY 86
HRR 011/15
HE NIVEL
INDEX
LISTA
4 JUN 1986
A
A84/6.
See
3
YOUR TELNOS 1462 AND 1625: OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE: EXCO
1.
2.
WE HAVE CONSULTED LEGAL ADVISERS ON THE PROPOSALS IN
TURS. IN PRINCIPLE NEITHER WE NOR THEY SEE DIFFICULTY WITH THE
IDEA THAT EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOPS MIGHT TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE OATH
INSTEAD OF THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE (OP INDEED NO OATH AT ALL, APART
FROM THE OATH OF FIDELITY). IN VIEW OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE LEGCO OATH LAST YEAR, WE WOULD NOT ENVISAGE
THAT THE PALACE WOULD FIND DIFFICULTY WITH YOUR PRESENT PROPOSAL.
LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS A
SUBSTANTIAL DEGREE OF DUPLICATION BETWEEN THE PRESENT OATH OF
FIDELITY TAKEN BY EXCO MEMBERS, AND THE OATH THAT YOU PROPOSE
SHOULD REPLACE THE PRESENT OATH OF ALLEGIANCE (PAPA 2 OF SECOND
TUP). WE ASSUME YOU APE SATISFIED THAT THE ADVANTAGES OF
INTRODUCING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE FOR EXCO
(PAPA 2 OF FIRST TUP) OUTWEIGH ANY POSSIBLE PRESENTATIONAL
DIFFICULTY OVER FUTURE COUNCILLOPS APPEARING TO TAKE TWO
SIMILAR OATHS IN TURN.
3.
ON THIS BASIS, AT OFFICIAL LEVEL WE SEE NO DIFFICULTY
WITH YOUR PROPOSED WORDING FOR THE NEW OATH, OF WITH THE EXPLANATION WHICH YOU WOULD GIVE ON PUBLICATION OF THE BILL.
SUBJECT TO ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS YOU MAY HAVE WE SHALL NOW
CONSULT MINISTERS AND THE PALACE ON WHAT IS PROPOSED. WE CANNOT
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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