GRS 900
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 01130OZ FCO
TELNO 2606
OF 011115Z JULY 87
SECRET
INFO! IMMED HATE PEKANG
23
Hus 01/1
¿LSIG O AdOO
1428
A
O G JUL 1987
MY TELNO 25761 STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT: LONGER TERM MSSUES
AT THIS MORNING'S MEET ANG EXCO DISCUSSED THE THREE DRAFT NOTES ON THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE EXECUTANE AND THE LEGISLATURE. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO DISCUSS THE COVERING PAPER.
2.
THE MAIN PORNTS RAKSED BY MEMBERS ARE SUMMARIZED BELOW:
THE CHIEF EXECUTRINE
(A)
AS A GENERAL COMMENT MEMBERS RECOMMENDED THAT, NN DISCUSSING THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (C.E.), THE PAPER
SHOULD DISTINGUISH MORE CLEARLY BETWEEN THE EXISTING
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOVERNOR AS:
(PM)
(AM)
HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT SEMICOLON
PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SEMICOLON AND
(H) PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(B) PARAGRAPH 4 : SEVERAL MEMBERS CONSIDERED THAT THE PROCEDURES SUGGESTED FOR ELECTION OF THE C.E. PLACED TOO MUCH POWER WN THE HANDS OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE. HIT WAS SUGGESTED THAT A MORE OPEN NOMINATION SYSTEM WOULD BE PREFERABLE, WITH A CHECK AGAINST FRIVOLOUS PROPOSALS PROVIDED BY A REQUIREMENT THAT POTENTINAL CANDIDATES SHOULD OBTAIN THE SUPPORT OF (SAY) 50 MEMBERS OF THE
GEC, EITHER BY ITSELF OR FOLLOWING NOMINATION BY (SAY) ANY 100 ORDINARY REGISTERED ELECTORS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE PAPER SHOULD REFER TO BOTH OPTIONS BUT INDICATE A PREFERENCE FOR AN OPEN
NOMINAT HON SYSTEM.
(C)
PARAGRAPH 6 : MEMBERS CONSIDERED THAT THIS PARAGRAPH
NEEDED TO BE EXPANDED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE TERM OF OFFICE OF
TH C.E. SHOULD PREFERABLY BE SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN THAT OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND THAT, WHEN NECESSARY, IT SHOULD ALSO BE STAGGERED
SO AS NOT TO END ON THE SAME DAY AS THAT OF THE LEGISLATURE.
REFERENCE SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED TO THE NEED TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM
FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR OR AN ACTING
GOVERNOR WHEN NECESSARY (MEMBERS CONSIDERED THE IDEA OF A FULL-TIME
DEPUTY GOVERNOR BUT REJECTED IT ON THE GROUNDS OF CREATING
UNHEALTHY RIVALRY BETWEEN THE
AND THE DEPUTY).
SECRET