CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
theB 026/18
RECEIVED IN
DESE
-
(40
164152
MDHIAN 7689
9 APR 1990 TOP COPY
QUIST ?
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 06103OZ FCO
INDLA
TELNO 1189
OF 060925Z APRIL 90
MR. MAUDE'S/VISIT: AREAS OF INTEREST TO THE MEDIA
36
YOUR TELNO. 741
+
1 WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING REVISED ANSWERS TO THE FOUR QUESTIONS
ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN TUR.
Q.
PERMISSION FOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO STAND IN ELECTIONS.
A. HONG KONG HAS BY TRADITION MAINTAINED AN APOLITICAL CIVIL
SERVICE. THIS HAS WORKED WELL IN HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. WHETHER OR NOT THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IS A
MATTER FOR HONG KONG.
Q. POSSIBLE CHANGES TO LEGCO AND EXCO RELATIONSHIP,
A. NOTHING IN HONG KONG STANDS STILL. CLEARLY THE RELATIONSHIP WILL
EVOLVE. HAVE HAD INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS ON THIS. NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.
Q. INTRODUCTION OF QUASI-MINISTERIAL SYSTEM IN VIEW OF THE
REDUCTION OF EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.
A. A STRAIGHT-FORWARD MINISTERIAL SYSTEM MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR
HONG KONG. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS, HOWEVER, AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS AND QUITE HOW THE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP
IS NOT YET CLEAR.
Q. PROSPECT OF EMERGENCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES.
A. NOW THAT HONG KONG HAS DIRECT ELECTIONS, INEVITABLE THAT GROUPS
WILL EMERGE IN SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES AND THEIR PLATFORMS. THIS SEEMS PERFECTLY NATURAL.
WILSON