A

ma Puslett, was) The minister

below.

query

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Store

Miss Williama

under cover of PA MIN

DATED

FROM:

E L Williams

1712

Hong Kong Department

13/2

DATE:

13 February 1992

Mr Ricketts has seen

Mr Ricketts

A

W1312

Mas aizle

Mr Burns

PS/Lord Caithness

Caithnes

coxennans who will tell the chimese &

miniti

and when?

On 26/2

முய

TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY FROM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (ExCo)

Problem

1. The Hong Kong Government's proposal to delegate from ExCo to a centralised Appeals Board authority to determine certain routine appeals may arouse Chinese sensitivity. Should we agree the proposals?

Recommendation

2.

That we should agree, since there is a genuine need to delegate this authority. A single administrative appeals board is also preferable to a series of separate appeals procedures for different sectors.

Background and Argument

3. The Hong Kong Government considers that some of the powers of the Executive Council should be delegated to allow it more time to focus on

on the broader strategic issues of the day. Hong Kong telno 32 sets out the three areas in which the Hong Kong Government consider delegation is desirable. They propose to delegate:

(a) the authority to exercise minor statutory powers of a routine nature to the relevant policy Secretary or Head of Department;

LESADE/1

TG

CONFIDENTIAL

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