SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2839
OF 221OOOZ JULY 87
SECRET
MNFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
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30 JUL 107
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MY TELNO 2836 : STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT: LONGER TERM ISSUES
FURTHER TO TUR, THE FOLLOWING MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE PAPERS WERE
SUGGESTED BY EXCO MEMBERS AT THIS MORNING'S MEETING :
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (NOTE 1)
(A) PARAGRAPH 6 : MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED THAT THE CHINESE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THE TERM 'TRANSFERABLE VOTE SYSTEM''. WE THEREFORE
SUGGEST THAT THIS PARAGRAPH BE RECAST AS FOLLOWS :
116.
*F ONE OF THE ABOVE SYSTEMS OF ELECTIONS ES CHOSEN, T WOULD BE NECESSARY TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THE METHOD OF ELECTION
AND VOTING SYSTEM TO BE USED, AND TO THE MACHINERY FOR SUBMITTING
THE ELECTED CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT BY THE CPG. AS REGARDS VOTING SYSTEMS, CANDIDATES MIGHT EITHER BE ELECTED BY A SIMPLE
MAJORITY, OR BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THE SUPPORT OF AT LEAST
TWO-THIRDS OF THE ELECTING BODY. ALTERNATIVELY A PREFERENTIAL SYSTEM
OF VOTING, SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH IS NOW USED FOR THE ELECTION TO
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FUNCT KONAL
CONSTITUENCIES, MIGHT BE PREFERRED.''
(B) PARAGRAPH 9 SECOND SENTENCE: THIS WAS THOUGHT TO BE UNDULY
NEGATIVE. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT T BE REWORDED AS FOLLOWS :
**THIS WOULD HELP TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES
OF THE EXECUTIVE AND THE EFFICIENT CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
MN THE LEGISLATURE.''
(C) PARAGRAPH 12 SECOND SENTENCE : DELETE THE WORDS OR TERMS'
(D) PARAGRPAH 15(D) : THE WORDS CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S COUNCIL SHOULD
OF COURSE, HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO ''EXECUTIVE COUNCIL''.
(E) PARAGRAPH 16(D) : MEMBERS WISHED TO GIVE GREATER EMPHASIS TO
THE FACT THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD BE ACTING IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE ADVICE OF AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. WE
THEREFORE SUGGEST THET FOLLOWING REWORDING :
''TO APPOINT AND DISMISS OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS, SUBJECT TO THIS
POWER BEING EXERCISED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADVICE OF AN
*:NDEPENDENT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION''
(F) PARAGRAPH 19 FOURTH SENTENCE : MEMBERS CONSIDERED THAT THE
POWER LISTED AT PARAGRAPH 17(B) SHOULD NOT BE RETAINED BY THE
GOVERNOR, BUT SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
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SECRET
LEGISLATURE