UNCLASSIFIED
027 32
23
MDHIAN
HAVE
FAILED TO BE ELECTED, IT WOULD UNDERMINE BOTH THEIR STATUS IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE EFFICIENT WORKING OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE SECOND OPTION WAS TO SPECIFY THAT SENIOR OFFICIALS WOULD THE RIGHT TO ATTEND LEGCO MEETINGS TO INTRODUCE GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, MAKE STATEMENTS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE ADVANTAGE WAS THAT IT WOULD AVOID THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE FIRST OPTION. BUT SINCE SQUARE BRACKET BEGIN THESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SQUARE BRACKETS ENDS WERE NOT LEGCO MEMBERS, THEIR STATUS IN LEGCO WOULD BE DIMINISHED. IT MIGHT ALSO BE OPEN TO CRITICISM THAT THE REGULAR PARTICIPATION OF NON-MEMBERS IN THE PROCESS OF ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARAT- ION THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE CONSTITUTED BY ELECTIONS.
ENDS
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
24
ΜΑΙΝ
23
HONG KONG AGREEMENT RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH (FE)
ADDITIONAL
1
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
NNNN
DEP HD/PUSD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
PAGE
2
UNCLASSIFIED