RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 4732
OF 15014OZ DECEMBER 87
INFO IMMEDIATE
PEKING
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011/2
16 DEC 1987
INDEX
01/2/718
011/12
052462
MDHIAN 0386
COPY ST 7
BASIC LAW : BLDC VI
DAYS ONE AND TWO : ELECTION OF THE SAR
LEGISLATURE: PRESS REPORT
SUMMARY
CONSENSUS REACHED ON A MIXTURE OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF ELECTION
RELATIVE PROPORTION OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF ELECTION STILL UNDER
DEBATE.
DETAILS
2. THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE THREE PANELS WERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
ELECTION OF THE SAR LEGISLATURE BY A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT
METHODS OF ELECTION. HOWEVER, THE PANELS HAD DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE RELATIVE PROPORTION OF THE DIFFERENT METHODS.
3. THREE DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS WERE PROPOSED IN THE DRAFT:
(A) 50 PER CENT TO BE ELECTED BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, 25 PER CENT BY DIRECT ELECTION AND THE REMAINING 25 PER CENT BY
INDIRECT ELECTION.
(B) NO LESS THAN 50 PER CENT BY DIRECT ELECTION, NO MORE THAN 25 PER CENT BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, AND NO MORE THAN 25 PER
CENT BY INDIRECT ELECTION.
(C) 40 PER CENT TO BE ELECTED BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, 30
PER CENT BY AN ADVISORY BOARD COMPRISING PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE ASSEMBLY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
AND 30 PER CENT BY DIRECT ELECTION.
PANEL 1
4. MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL WERE IN FAVOUR OF OPTION (C). AS THIS
PROVIDED THAT PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS COULD BE ELECTED INTO THE
LEGISLATURE VIA THE ADVISORY BOARD. THEY CONSIDERED THAT, IF THE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS WOULD NOT (NOT) BECOME MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM AND PARTY POLITICS MIGHT RESULT AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT
BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.