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EXCO AND THE ABOLITION OF THE TWO PRINCIPLES OF CONFIDENTIALITY AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
7. THE CRC STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REMAIN EXECUTIVE- LED AND THAT THE COMPLEMENTARY ROLE OF THE TWO COUNCILS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. SOME WERE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE EXCO BEING TURNED INTO A 'BATTLE FIELD' IF MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES WERE APPOINTED TO THE EXCO (PLEASE SEE ALSO OUR TELNO 1787).
MOST FAVOURED NATION STATUS FOR CHINA
8. THE MOTION MOVED BY VINCENT CHENG (THEN A CRC MEMBER) ON 8 JULY WAS: 'THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MOST FAVOURED NATION (MEN) STATUS FOR CHINA BY THE UNITED STATES: AND URGES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN VIGOROUS EFFORTS AND, WHEN NECESSARY, SEEK GREATER SUPPORT FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT, IN PURSUIT OF THIS GOAL.'
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9 HUANG CHEN-YA OF THE UDHK MOVED THE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION: 'THAT THIS COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT THE EXTENSION OF THE MFN STATUS FOR THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY OF THE PRC AND HONG KONG: AND THEREFORE URGES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO STRESS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT THE IMPORTANCE TO THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG OF EXTENDING MFN STATUS TO THE PRC: AND AT THE SAME TIME THIS COUNCIL EXPRESSES ITS HOPE THAT THE PRC GOVERNMENT WILL, ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE, IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS SO THAT MFN STATUS FOR THE PRC WILL BE ASSURED FOR THE LONG TERM.'
10. THIS MOTION DEBATE WAS SEEN AS CRC'S PLOT TO EXPOSE UDHK'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ENDORSE THE UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MEN FOR CHINA, TO THE DETRIMENT OF HONG KONG'S INTEREST. AFTER MUCH HEATED DEBATE, THE MOTION WAS CARRIED WITH 41 VOTES FOR AND 11 ABSTAIN. HUANG CHEN-YA'S AMENDMENT MOTION WAS DEFEATED BY A WIDE
MARGIN. (PLEASE SEE ALSO OUR TELNO 1852)
SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS
11. THE REPORT BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS (WITH CRC MEMBERS FORMING A SLIGHT MAJORITY IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE) WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL AND DEBATED ON 15 JULY UNDER THE MOTION MOVED BY RON ARCULLI 'THAT THIS COUNCIL TAKES NOTE OF THE REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS'. THE MOTION WAS AMENDED BY JIMMY MCGREGOR WITH THE ADDITION AND THAT IN DOING SO, TAKES THE VIEW THAT
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