SECRET
034423
MDADAN 0461
VOTES IN LEGCO. THIS WOULD NEED TO BE A HIGH-LEVEL FORUM WITH PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION FROM LEGCO, PERHAPS CHAIRED BY MYSELF. WE WOULD HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN STRUCTURING AND OPERATING SUCH A MECHANISM TO ENSURE THAT IT DOES NOT GROW INTO A SUPER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. BUT I AM NOT UNHOPEFUL THAT, WITH A STRONG GOVERNMENT LEAD, THE EXECUTIVE WOULD RETAIN THE INITIATIVE IN SUCH A FORUM, MOULDING MAJORITIES ON AN ISSUE BY ISSUE BASIS.
8.
THE MAIN DIFFICULTY WITH THIS OPTION IS PUBLIC ACCEPTABILITY. SINCE THE 1991 ELECTIONS, THERE HAS BEEN PUBLIC EXPECTATION THAT THE LINKAGE BETWEEN EXCO AND LEGCO WOULD BE ENHANCED, WITH THE IMPORT OF SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC ELEMENTS OF THE LEGISLATURE INTO THE EXECUTIVE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. THIS OPTION WOULD LARGELY GO THE OTHER WAY. BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN BE MADE ACCEPTABLE IF IT IS BALANCE BY A PACKAGE OF MEASURES WHICH ENHANCE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE EXECUTIVE TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND WHICH ROOT DEMOCRACY FIRMLY IN THE LEGISLATURE. I AM EXAMINING A RANGE OF MEASURES TO ENHANCE ACCOUNTABILITY, E.G. SUBJECTING MYSELF TO LEGCO QUESTIONING AND GIVING SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO ENABLE LEGCO TO EXAMINE POLICIES MORE CLOSELY ETC.. BUT WE WILL ALSO NEED TO SUPPORT THESE BY A PACKAGE OF DEMOCRATIC MEASURES FOR THE 1995 LEGCO.
1995 LEGCO ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS
9. HMG HAS A PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO GO BACK TOT HE CHINESE ON THE QUESTION OF MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGCO SEATS IN 1995. THIS WE MUST, OF COURSE, HONOUR. BUT WE SHOULD BE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT IT IS LIKELY TO BE OBTAINABLE, EVEN AFTER THE PARTY CONGRESS. THE CHINESE ARE FAR TOO PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO NOT CHANGING THE BASIC LAW, AND EVEN IF THERE WERE A MORE PROGRESSIVE LINE-UP IN PEKING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THERE IS LITTLE SIGN THAT THEY WOULD ALTER THIS POSITION. THE COMMUNITY HERE EXPECTS US TO TRY FOR MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS, BUT HAS NO HIGH EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL SUCCEED, AND WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO BACK UNILATERAL ACTION BY US ON THIS. I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT ADVOCATE DROPPING THE QUEST FOR MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS AT THE OUTSET. IT IS A GOOD BARGAINING CARD. BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF SCOPE FOR INCREASING THE DEMOCRATIC ELEMENTS IN THE 1995 LEGCO IN OTHER WAYS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS SET DOWN IN THE BASIC LAW. FOR EXAMPLE:
(A)
(B)
AN INDEPENDENT BOUNDARIES/ELECTORAL COMMISSION:
LOWERING THE VOTING AGE FROM 21 TO 18:
PAGE
SECRET
3