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- CONSULTATION OVER GOVERNOR'S LEGCO ADDRESS LESS EXTENSIVE THAN USUAL BECAUSE OF IMMINENT CHANGES TO EXCO'S MEMBERSHIP.
MANY PROPOSALS COME WITHIN EXISTING POLICY. NEW PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT TO THE NEW EXCO FOLLOWING GOVERNOR'S LEGCO ADDRESS.
WHY NO MARTIN LEE ON EXCO?
- GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS PROVIDE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL MEMBERS OF LEGCO TO DEVELOP THEIR PARTIES AND PROGRAMMES FREELY, UNCONSTRAINED BY THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY REQUIRED OF EXCO
MEMBERS.
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OUR AIM IS TO BUILD UP LEGCO AND STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY. SEPARATION OF EXCO AND LEGCO MEMBERSHIP FREES POLITICIANS TO
DEVELOP THEIR REPRESENTATIVE ROLE.
BACKGROUND
5. THE MAIN CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS IN THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH
ARE AS FOLLOWS:
DECISIONS ON CHANGES IN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURE
G
(I) SEPARATE NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (EXCO) AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (LEGCO) TO REFLECT THEIR DIFFERENT ROLES. NO NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO ON EXCO.
(II) LEGCO TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ITS OWN AFFAIRS AND TO DEVELOP ITS OWN PROCEDURES FOR STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITY.
(III) DIALOGUE BETWEEN LEGCO AND THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION TO
BE STRENGTHENED BY:
- A NEW NON-STATUTORY BODY COMPOSED OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND
REPRESENTATIVES OF LEGCO TO DISCUSS MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT
BUSINESS IN LEGCO: TO BE CHAIRED BY GOVERNOR OR SENIOR OFFICIAL.
GOVERNOR TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN LEGCO AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.
PROPOSALS FOR 1995 ELECTIONS
CONTINUE TO PRESS VIGOUROUSLY FOR MORE DIRECTLY-ELECTED SEATS IN LEGCO THAN THE 20 LAID DOWN IN THE BASIC LAW. IN PARALLEL, EXPLORE OPTIONS WITHIN THE BASIC LAW.
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VOTING AGE TO BE REDUCED FROM 21 TO 18.
VOTING SYSTEM FOR GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES: ONE SEAT, ONE
VOTE.
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2
FRANCHISE OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO BE EXTENDED TO ENTIRE
.7 MILLION WORKFORCE. NO MORE CORPORATE VOTERS.
- DISTRICT BOARDS TO BE ALL-ELECTED, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNDING TO BE INCREASED.
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ELECTION COMMITTEE (WHICH UNDER THE BASIC LAW ELECTS 10 MEMBERS
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