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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 17123OZ F C O
TELNO 2908
OF 17112OZ SEPTEMBER 91
31
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Maşalı
TOP COPY Q DIOT?
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126417
MDHIAN 3082
pa
YOUR TELNO 1641: LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD (ADPL)
WE APOLOGISE FOR MISSING YOUR DEADLINE, BUT THE DRAFT REPLY TO ADPL'S LETTER, FAXED TO PS/GH ON 13 SEPTEMBER WAS INCOMPLETE AND WE ONLY RECEIVED THE FULL VERSION ON 16 SEPTEMBER.
2. WE ARE GENERALLY CONTENT WITH THE DRAFT REPLY. ON THE QUESTION OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES (PARA 3 THEREIN), WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:
QUOTE THE BASIC CONCEPTS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES ARE CLEARLY SET OUT IN THE 1984 AND 1988 HONG KONG WHITE PAPERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE WORKED WELL AND I DO NOT SEE A CASE FOR CHANGING THEM DRASTICALLY. AS REGARDS THE QUESTION OF VOTING RIGHTS, FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND DIRECT ELECTIONS PROVIDE TWO DISTINCT AND SEPARATE CHANNELS FOR RETURNING REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LEGISLATURE. WHILE IT IS APPROPRIATE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF VOTES WHICH A PERSON MAY CAST IN EITHER ONE OF THESE, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOW THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE IN BOTH GIVEN THEIR SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT NATURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISSUE WILL BE LOOKED INTO BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS PART OF AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE HONG KONG ELECTORAL SYSTEM. UNQUOTE.
3. ON ADVISING COMMITTEES (PARA 3 OF TUR), OUR SUGGESTED LINE IS THAT OBJECTS, COMPOSITION AND GENERAL OPERATION OF STATUTORY BODIES WITH EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE GOVERNED BY LAW. THE RELEVANT ORDINANCES WERE DEBATED AND PASSED BY LEGCO. IN MOST CASES, THEY REQUIRE THE MAJOR STATUTORY BODIES CONCERNED TO SUBMIT ANNUAL ACCOUNTS AND REPORTS TO LEGCO AND PROVIDE FOR INTERVENTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS IN TURN ACCOUNTABLE TO LEGCO.
WILSON
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