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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1988
LEGISLATORS SHOULD ELECT CHIEF EXECUTIVF
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THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE VOTED INTO OFFICE BY A MAJORITY OF LEGISLATORS SO THAT HE OR SHE WOULD ENJOY THE SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE OF A MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE HON SELINA CHOW SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE DRAFT BASIC LAW, MRS CHOW SAID THE DOCUMENT FAILED TO ADDRESS SOME KEY FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES.
WOULD
SHE SAID ONE KEY QUESTION WAS WHETHER THE SAR GOVERNMENT MAINTAIN EXISTING LINKS BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES, OR WHETHER IT WOULD INITIATE THE SEPARATION OF POWER BETWEEN THE TWO,
SINCE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD NOT BE ELECTED, AND THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES WERE TO BE APPOINTED BY HIM, THE BEST CHECKS AND BALANCES WERE TO SEPARATE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
THE ELECTED LEGISLATURE COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE COULD THEN EFFECTIVELY MONITOR THE EXERCISE OF POWER BY THE EXECUTIVE.
"WHILE AGREEING THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD ACT AS EFFECTIVE CHECK AND BALANCE TO THE EXECUTIVE, I AM CONCERNED THE DANGER EXISTS FOR THAT CHECK AND BALANCE TO OVERSHOOT ITS USEFUL PURPOSE, AND END UP AS A STUMBLING BLOCK TO EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION, SHE SAID.
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IT WAS THEREFORE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE THAT *THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND
ADMINISTRATION MUST ENJOY THE SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE OF A MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE, SO THAT GOVERNMENT POLICIES, WHILE EXPOSED TO PUBLIC DEBATE, CRITICISM AND CENSURE, COULD RETAIN INITIATIVE AND CONTROL WHILE TAKING IN PUBLIC VIEWS.
"IT FOLLOWS THEREFORE THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS BEST VOTED INTO OFFICE BY A MAJORITY OF LEGISLATORS, WHO WILL HOPEFULLY ADOPT THE TWO EQUALLY IMPORTANT CRITERIA OF POLITICAL SENSITIVITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMPETENCE, SHE ADDED.
MRS CHOW NOTED THAT CRITICS OF THIS CONCEPT ARGUED THAT SUCH A METHOD OF ELECTION COULD GIVE RISE ΤΟ THE NEED TO FORM POLITICAL PARTIES, WHICH IN TURN WOULD BREED CONFRONTATION AND INSTABILITY,
"SUCH PROPONENTS IGNORE THE FACT THAT HONG KONG HAS PROGRESSED PAST THE AGE OF UNORGANISED POLITICAL PERSONNEL AND ACTIVITIES," SHE SAID.
/"WHAT WE