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GIBRALTAR
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053647
MDHOAN 1841
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
GIBRALTAR FOR APS/MR MAUDE
MIFT
GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE: VOTING PROCEDURES
1. THE IDEA OF A GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE WAS FIRST PUT FORWARD BY THE BRITISH SIDE AS A POSSIBLE METHOD FOR SELECTING THE SAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE (IN A PAPER HANDED TO THE CHINESE SIDE IN MAY 1986). PROVISION FOR A BODY OF THIS NATURE (CALLED THE ELECTION COMMITTEE) IS SET OUT IN THE APPENDIX TO THE FEBRUARY 1989 DRAFT BASIC LAW (DRAFT DECISION OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ON THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST SARG). THE ELECTION COMMITTEE WOULD BE COMPOSED OF 400 MEMBERS FROM FOUR FUNCTIONAL SECTORS AND WOULD RECOMMEND THE CANDIDATE FOR THE FIRST CHIEF EXECUTIVE THROUGH LOCAL CONSULTATION COR THROUGH LOCAL ELECTIONS AFTER CONSULTATION) TO THE CPG FOR APPOINTMENT.
2. IN A FURTHER PAPER HANDED TO THE CHINESE LATER IN 1986, WE SUGGESTED THAT THE CONCEPT OF A GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE COULD ALSO BE USED AS A MEANS OF VALIDATING THE PRESENT APPOINTED AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO BY SOME FORM OF ELECTION (IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE CONSTITUTED BY ELECTIONS'. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE COULD PRESENT A LIST OF THE SENIOR OFFICALS TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FOR ELECTION AS FOR VOTING MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. (THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY
BACKED AWAY FROM THIS IDEA, BELIEVING THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO POLITICISATION OF OFFICIALS AND IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.) THE CHINESE DID NOT ADOPT THIS SUGGESTION IN THE FEBRUARY 1989 DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW.
3. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IDEA RESURFACED AGAIN IN A NUMBER OF MODELS FOR THE FUTURE SAR LEGISLATURE BEING PUT FORWARD BY HONG KONG POLITICAL GROUPS IN LATE 1989, BUT NONE OF THEM SPECIFIED THE COMPOSITION OF SUCH AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
4.
PRESS REPORTS FOLLOWING THE MEETING OF THE BLDC SPECIAL GROUP ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN CANTON ON 17-20 JANUARY 1990 STATED
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