+
3
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1984
+THOSE A IMS WERE STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO COMMENTED ON THE GREEN PAPER. THEY HAVE BEEN RETAINED AS THE AIMS OF THE WHITE PAPER,+ SIR EDWARD STATED.
IT
AS REGARDS THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT, HAD BEEN PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO SHOULD, IN DUE COURSE, ELECT THE MAJORITY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FROM AMONG THE IR OWN NUMBER. THERE HAD BEEN SOME SUPPORT FOR THE ARRANGEMENTS PROPOSED: OTHERS, HOWEVER, HAD CONSIDERED THAT A FUTURE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE FREE TO SELECT HIS OWN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
MANY PEOPLE HAD EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF SOME FORM OF MINISTERIAL SYSTEM IN FUTURE TO GIVE THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MORE AUTHORITY TO MONITOR AND CONTROL THE POLICIES AND OPERATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
+BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY OF PROCEEDING. NOR CAN THE PROPOSAL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY FROM THE WIDER ISSUES OF THE FUTURE COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND THE FUTURE POSITION OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF BOTH COUNCILS.
+ IT IS NOT INTENDED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AFFECTING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN 1985. THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE EXECUTIVE AND ITS COMPOSITION AND ROLE WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION AT A LATER STAGE, HE SAID.
THE PROPOSAL IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE REPLACED IN DUE COURSE AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY A PRESIDING OFFICER ELECTED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL FROM AMONG THE IR OWN NUMBER HAD GENERALLY BEEN WELL RECEIVED, HE POINTED OUT.
BUT IT WAS APPARENT THAT PUBLIC OPINION FAVOURED CAUTION, WITH THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR TO BE RETAINED UNCHANGED FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS AT LEAST.
+ IT IS THEREFORE INTENDED TO RECONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL IN THE 1987 REVIEW, + SIR EDWARD SAID.
ON CIVIC EDUCATION, THE WHITE PAPER RECORDS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE IT.
THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO SHOULD BE GIVEN ADEQUATE REMUNERATION TO ENSURE THAT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES WERE NOT PREVENTED FOR FINANCIAL REASONS FROM STANDING FOR ELECTION, AND TO ENABLE THEM TO DEVOTE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME AND ATTENTION TO THEIR DUTIES
COUNCILLORS.
/+THE WHITE