TERM OF OFFICE
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8.
It was suggested in Paper II of May 1986 that the term of office of the Chief Executive could either coincide with that of the
Legislature, or be staggered to provide for the selection of the
Chief Executive at a date different from that of elections to the
Legislature.
9.
Whichever option were selected, the Chief Executive would
need to be assured of a strong body of support within the
Legislature. Otherwise the ability of the Executive to implement its policies and ensure the efficient conduct of government business. in the Legislature might be compromised.
10.
Note 2 of October 1986 suggested that one way of ensuring
that the Chief Executive enjoyed sufficient support would be for at least a proportion of the Legislature to be elected by the same electorate as would choose the Chief Executive himself. If, for
example, a "Grand Electoral College" system were chosen as the means of electing the Chief Executive, the same body might also be given the responsibility for electing a certain proportion of the Legislature from a list of candidates nominated by the Chief
Executive.
11.
Under such a system the Chief Executive and members of the Legislature elected by the GEC would enter office at the same time and their terms of office would be of equal duration. It would then be for consideration whether the terms of office of other groups of
elected members should also coincide with that of the Chief
Executive or whether, instead, they should be of equal duration but commence and expire in different years. The options with regard to the terms of office of different groups of members in the Legislature are discussed further at paragraphs 13-16 of Note 3.
12.
If it is considered advantageous for the terms of office of the Chief Executive and the Legislature to be of equal duration it will be necessary to decide whether the present three year term of office of the Legislative Council should be adopted, or a longer
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