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5
fficials
will hold seats in this Council. In the last
session, there were ten; six years ago, there were 22. The
possibly carry
the
small number of officials now in the Council could not
burden
proposals in
administration's
of explaining the
every area, let alone
providing answers to questions put forward by Members on
matters of detail. So, in order to help this Council have
a full and direct view of the Government's policies in the
great range of
areas these cover, and to help build up an
effective partnership with Members, I will nominate other
officials to attend meetings of the Council at appropriate
times.
9.
These officials will have the task of presenting
bills; explaining expenditure proposals; answering Members'
questions; and replying to debates. They will play a vital
role in creating effective day-to-day links so that Members
best discharge their responsibilities to the public. A
structure requires new procedures. I am sure you will
can
new
welcome
the contribution these officials can make, and that
you will help in the development of this new relationship
with the civil service.
/10. Equally,
TOTAL P.06
09-OCT-1991 17:14
SECRETARIAT D.A.U.
+852 845 7895
P.03
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ย
10.
Equally,
if
not
more
important,
is
the
relationship
between
this
Council and the
Executive
Council.
is,
Council
-
Under our system of government, the Executive
and will continue to be, the key policy-making.
an
increasingly important role
both in
body in Hong Kong. Its Members will have an important role
to play
reflecting the views and concerns of Legislative Council
Members and in explaining the administration's proposals to
you and to a wider public. This will help us to create an
effective working partnership between the administration
Council. We need to give Executive
and Members of this
Councillors more time
to consider policy issues and their
implications,
and
not
At.t
wantings to hamama cluttered
with routine business.
A thorough review has been made of
how to do this. The Executive Council's procedures are
being streamlined to allow its Members to concentrate more,
and earlier, on the essential issues.
11.
In addition, Members will, I know, wish to review
in which way
the Legislative Council itself
organised and conducts its business.
the
and procedures are
is
matters for
Your Standing Orders
you to decide
yourselves.
But I
administration's full
for
can assure you that you will have the
cooperation in the search for new or
improved ways
of
carrying out your
legislative
/responsibilities
sponsibilities.
12.
These changes
7
which
I have outlined are only the
immediate agenda. Further constitutional development will
The entire Council will then be
take place in 1995.
elected, at least one third of them by direct election.
Members will choose their Own President. The system of
appointed Members will cease.
There will be no civil
servant Members. The number of directly elected seats will
be
increased:
constituencies.
Election Committee.
SO will the number
of
functional
Some Members will be returned by an
13.
TO prepare for 1995, a review of the entire
electoral system is being undertaken.
It should be
completed by the middle of next year. Among the main
issues to be considered will be the establishment of an
independent Electoral Commission.
procedures
A Commission of this
sort could assume responsibility for regulating electoral
including canvassing rules, the role of
political parties in elections and the question of election
expenses.
/14. There