CONFIDENTIAL
Ť
香港總督府
HONG KONG Despatch 16 July 1988
1.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
Hong Kong's Legislative Council
The Impact of Elections
Summary
The introduction of 24 indirectly elected members in 1985 has changed the Legislative Coucil significantly. It now has a higher profile and a distinct identity. The Government has to work hard to obtain a consensus (paragraphs 1-5).
2.
Only
The Hong Kong Government is a minority one. 10 members of the Legislative Council out of 56 are officials. Non-officials have the power, should they decide to use it, to frustrate proposals requiring public expenditure (paragraphs 6-7).
3.
Because of these changes the Executive Council have to pay greater attention to the politics of proposed policies. The workload of official members of the Legislative Council has also increased. The administration is slowly coming to terms with the new system (paragraphs 8-10).
4.
The Legislative Council is still very different from Westminster. But in its own terms it is changing quite Bills dramatically. More sittings and longer debates. take longer to enact but so far the legislative programme has been maintained. More spontaneity and more challenges to the President's rulings (paragraphs 11-14).
5.
Bills are
but
Most work done behind the scenes. scrutinized by "ad hoc" groups which largely control the timing of their enactment. A time consuming exercise, the process frequently improves them and makes controversial legislation more acceptable publicly. Important role of Senior Member, who combines elements of Chief Whip and Leader of House (paragraphs 15-18).
6.
Appointed members are often unfairly criticized.
Elected members not a unified They perform a valuable role.
minority body. Emergence of quasi-political groupings: "radical" group headed by Mr. Martin Lee and "moderates" led by Mr. Allen Lee (paragraphs 19-22).
7.
More change to come. By 1997 the administration must learn how to manage a wholly elected and more populist All this will Council, probably with no official members. happen at a time of unprecedented change. Important that HMG handles this situation with sympathy and understanding (paragraphs 23-27).
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 30Page 31