SECRET
Spac
96
152200
MDHIAN 6540
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2183
OF 250815Z AUGUST 92
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
Ming artz
PERSONAL FOR COX, HKD.
FROM GOVERNOR.
MY LEGCO ADDRESS: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
I WOULD
1. I NOW HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE MAIN CONSTITUTIONAL COMPONENTS OF MY LEGCO ADDRESS. THESE ARE SET OUT BELOW. LIKE TO DISCUSS THEM WITH MR.GOODLAND DURING HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG. BY THE TIME HE ARRIVES I PLAN TO HAVE WORKED THEM UP INTO SPEECH FORM. IN THE MEANTIME, ANY PRELIMINARY COMMENTS WOULD BE WELCOME.
GENERAL
2. I WILL WANT TO SET OUT SOME GENERAL POINTS AT THE OUTSET: MY FIRM INTENTION TO HAVE VIGOROUS AND EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT, ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE: THE NEED TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SOMETHING THAT WILL STRENGTHEN AND NOT WEAKEN GOVERNMENT: AND THE NEED TO ADJUST THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXCO AND LEGCO SINCE THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THIS RECENTLY.
EXCO
3. I INTEND TO APPOINT A MIXTURE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS AND LEADERS IN OTHER FIELDS OF LIFE WHO CAN PROVIDE ME WITH WISE INDEPENDENT ADVICE. TO ENSURE THAT THEIR ADVICE IS FULLY INDEPENDENT, AND BECAUSE EXCO AND LEGCO HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, NO NON-OFFICIALS WILL ALSO BE MEMBERS OF LEGCO. I WILL SEND RECOMMENDATIONS ON INDIVIDUALS SEPARATELY BEFORE MR.GOODLAD'S
VISIT.
EXCO-LEGCO
4.
BECAUSE OF THEIR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, A CLEAR DISTINCTION SHOULD BE DRAWN BETWEEN THE TWO COUNCILS. IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS THAT OMELCO SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.
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