CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3606
OF 14120OZ NOVEMBER 91
CONFIDENTIAL
this 02/s
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
pa Prak
ра
26 Lesto
166144
MDHIAN 1958
TOP COPY Q DIST?
MIPT: LEGCO STANDING COMMITTEES
1. FOLLOWING ARE SUGGESTED POINTS TO MAKE IN BRIEFING THE CHINESE
ON LEGCO STANDING COMMITTEES:
(1) THIS IS A MATTER WHICH FALLS WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF LEGCO AND MUST ULTIMATELY BE FOR THEM TO WORK OUT. WE CANNOT THEREFORE OFFER FORMALLY TO CONSULT THE CHINESE SIDE ON THIS, ALTHOUGH WE ARE PREPARED TO LISTEN TO THEIR VIEWS.
(2) NO CHANGE IN LEGCO'S POWERS IS ENVISAGED. BUT NEW LEGCO STRUCTURE (E.G. NEWLY INTRODUCED DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENTS, MORE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY MEMBERS) CALLS FOR NEW WAYS OF CONDUCTING LEGCO BUSINESS. NEW LEGCO MEMBERS WILL WANT TO BE SEEN TO BE PLAYING THEIR ROLE MUCH MORE IN THE PUBLIC ARENA. LEGCO MEMBERS THEMSELVES RAISED THIS ISSUE, AND ARE TAKING THE LEAD TO REVIEW THEIR OWN PROCEDURES. THEIR THINKING IS STILL EVOLVING, AND IT
WILL TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE CLEAR DIRECTIONS EMERGE.
(3) LEGCO'S EXISTING POWERS UNDER ROYAL INSTRUCTION XXIII ENABLE
IT TO MAKE RULES AND ORDERS FOR THE REGULATION OF ITS OWN PROCEEDINGS. SUCH POWERS ARE PRESERVED IN THE BASIC LAW BL 75. STANDING COMMITTEES ARE NOT A NEW THING. EXISTING LEGCO STANDING ORDERS ALREADY PROVIDE FOR THREE STANDING COMMITTEES, VIZ. FINANCE COMMITTEE (S.0. 60), PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (S.0. 60A) AND COMMITTEE ON MEMBERS' INTERESTS (S.0. 60B). LEGCO MAY, BY RESOLUTION, AMEND STANDING ORDERS TO PROVIDE FOR MORE STANDING COMMITTEES. THEY ARE ALSO REFERRED TO IN THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES ORDINANCE.
(4) THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT (NOT) IN A POSITION TO PREVENT LEGCO EVOLVING THE WAY THEY DO BUSINESS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THEIR OWN STANDING ORDERS. NOR WOULD IT BE WISE TO TRY TO DO SO. RATHER WE SHOULD SEEK TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK EFFECTIVELY. CHINESE SIDE WILL RECALL THAT WE REPEATEDLY ADVISED THEM THAT THE NEW LEGCO WOULD NEED MORE CAREFUL MANAGEMENT THAN ITS
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