4
GRS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 701
OF 06014OZ MARCH 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK ## 1243.
RECEIVED FRUSTR
12 MAR 1986
INLAL
198
Aben
12/2
ECTORS
COMPOSITION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
1. AS YOU KNOW, IN OCTOBER 1985 THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (INCLUDING EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS) WAS REDUCED FROM 18 TO 10. #T WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO HNCLUDE IN THIS NUMBER ALL BRANCH SECRETARIES WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE COUNCIL. CONSEQUENTLY BUSINESS RELATING TO CERTAIN SUBJECTS HAS HAD TO BE HANDLED BY OFFICIALS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS IS NOT VERY SATISFACTORY. SOME UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE REPLIES GIVEN TO THEIR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN INADEQUATE.
2. INSTEAD OF PURSUING THE PROPOSAL REGARDING ATTENDANCE BY OFFICIALS AS NON-MEMBERS (YOUR TELNO. 1729 OF 4 NOVEMBER 1985) # BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE COUNCIL IF THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE TO BE INCREASED FROM 10 TO 12. HAVE DISCUSSED THIS DEA INFORMALLY WITH THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, WHO WELCOMED THE PROPOSAL, SHARED MY VIEW ON IT BEING PREFERABLE TO THE EARLIER PROPOSAL AND CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD FIND FAVOUR WITH HER COLLEAGUES. SHE THOUGHT THAT UNOFFICIALS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN PROPOSING THIS MOVE TO THE ADMINSTRATION. BEFORE WE TAKE THINGS FURTHER, # WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT MINISTERS WHOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION. THE LETTERS PATENT WOULD OF COURSE NEED TO BE AMENDED.
3. H HAVE NOT YET REACHED ANY FIRM VIEW ON WHO THE ADDITIONAL 2 MEMBERS MIGHT BE. IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN MAKING THE APPOINTMENTS AND TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE MAJOR POLICY ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. AT PRESENT THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AND THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES SEEM LIKELY CANDIDATES. THE FIRST NS BECAUSE QUESTIONS WITHIN HIS SCHEDULE ARE RAISED REGULARLY AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO RESPOND. THE SECOND IS
CONFIDENTIAL
/BECAUSE
}