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THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE SUCCESSFUL ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AND OF ACHIEVING A STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY PROVIDED FOR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. IN CONSIDERING THESE ISSUES THE BRITISH SIDE HAS PAID PARTICULAR REGARD TO THE FOLLOWING
FACTORS:
(A) THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE LED BY A STRONG EXECUTIVE, BUT THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE CHECKS AND BALANCES BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME PRESERVING A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM:
(B) THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE PLACE GRADUALLY AND STEP BY STEP:
(C) THE BASIC LAW SHOULD ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF HONG KONG'S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY:
(D) FOLLOWING FROM (C), THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ONE IN WHICH THE VIEWS OF ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE FAIRLY REPRESENTED, THUS ENABLING IT TO FUNCTION WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG:
(E) THE SYSTEM SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE EMERGENCE OF ABLE LOCAL LEADERS, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR POLITICAL PARTIES: AND
(F) THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD PROVIDE FOR EFFICIENT AND STABLE ADMINISTRATION BY COMPETENT AND IMPARTIAL PUBLIC SERVANTS
WHO ARE ABLE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE
EXECUTIVE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
13. THE ATTACHED NOTES DO NOT ADDRESS IN DETAIL THE QUESTION OF HOW CONVERGENCE BETWEEN THE PRESENT EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURES AND THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURES OF THE SAR MAY BE ACHIEVED. IF THERE IS TO BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION IT WILL
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