Translation of a News Report in Sing Tao Daily on May 22, 1992
Headline: Rumours about Chris Patten making "through Train"
arrangements and changing the executive authorities to an advisory body upon taking up his new posts.
Sub-headline: Sets eyes on the economic benefits after 1997 and hopes
the Chinese side will give reciprocal returns to what they have been offered.
Chief Executive keeps all the power to himself, much to the liking of Peking.
Even if directly elected members are appointed to the Exco, they will only be speaking to themselves.
The decision-making centre of the HK Government and Chinese officials all know that after Governor-designate Chris Patten takes up his post, he will change the jurisdiction and the functions of the Exco. The Council, which presently is a decision-making organ, will be turned into an advisory body. Mr Patten also has the intention of appointing UDHX legislators to the Exco.
To cope with the aforesaid chauges, thu Ĉovernor will no longer insist on the rules of collective responsibility and confidentiality
It is learned that that existing Exco members are required to follow. some of the officials of the HK and Macau Affairs Office and Branch already know that the K Government is planning to change the functions of the Exco. They contend that the new arrangement is similar to the provisions related to "the Executive Council" in the Basic Law, but they have not made further comments.
This power and responsibility is given by the Governor and is not spelt out by law. This responsibilty is similar to what has been stated
It is in the Basic Law, that “Exco is only a consultative body". generally believed that the Hong Kong government hopes to start making the present framework match the provisions of the Basic Law in 1995. If this was so, the Exco members at that time would be able to ride the 'through train” into 1997, with their responsibilities intact, together with the Legco members in post in 1995.
After the change of framework and responsibilities of the Exco the role of the Governor would be like the "Chief Executive" under the Basic Law, and he can make decisions on Hong Kong affairs with other secretaries in the civil service. The Exco will not have policy-making powers, therefore even if the Governor was to appoint democrats like Martin Lee and others of the UDHK to it, this would not have any real effect on the workings of the Government.
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