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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992
IN
"THIS SHOULD ALLOW BOTH COUNCILS TO PLAY THEIR PROPER ROLES. FUTURE WITHIN THIS COUNCIL, POLITICAL PARTIES AND GROUPS WILL BE FREE то DEVELOP THEIR PROGRAMMES AND PLATFORMS, WITHOUT THE CONSTRAINTS THAT MEMBERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MUST IMPOSE," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS HIS INTENTION TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG HAD A VIGOROUS AND EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT THAT WAS PROPERLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE BELIEVED THERE WAS A DANGER OF CONFUSION AND MUDDLE IN THE ROLES WHICH WOULD BOTH UNDERMINE THE COMPETENCE OF THE EXECUTIVE AND INHIBIT THE EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE AS AN INDEPENDENT CHECK ON GOVERNMENT.
"AS THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW BOTH MAKE PLAIN, IT IS THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS THE MAIN CONSTITUTIONAL ELEMENT THAT MUST BE DEVELOPED. THAT IS, THEREFORE, MY MAJOR CONCERN.'
MR PATTEN SAID THAT WITH A CHANGED AND MUCH MORE REPRESENTATIVE LEGISLATURE THERE SEEMED ONLY TWO CREDIBLE OPTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXCO AND ITS ADVISORY ROLE A COALITION EXCO OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF EXCO AND LEGCO.
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HE SAID THAT TO SOME DEGREE THE COALITION APPROACH WAS ATTEMPTED AFTER THE 1991 LEGCO ELECTIONS, BUT IT FAILED TO GET FULLY OFF THE GROUND.
BESIDES PRACTICAL POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES, HE BELIEVED THERE WAS A MORE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THE COALITION APPROACH.
"IT WOULD RESULT IN THE TRANSFER OF POLITICAL DEBATE FROM OPEN FORUM OF LEGCO TO THE CLOSED COUNCIL OF EXCO.
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"IN ADDITION, A COALITION EXCO IMPLIES THE APPOINTMENT OF SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPOINTED TO LEGCO. IT IS NO DISRESPECT TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY SERVED ON EXCO WITH SUCH DISTINCTION TO SAY THAT THIS 'DOUBLE APPOINTMENTS' APPROACH WOULD IN THE FUTURE MAKE A NONSENSE OF OUR ATTEMPTS ΤΟ STRENGTHEN OUR REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS," MR PATTEN SAID.
THE GOVERNOR PAID TRIBUTE TO THE JOINT MEMBERS WHO WERE STEPPING DOWN TODAY FROM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
"I GREATLY ADMIRE THE WAY IN WHICH SO MANY OF THEM ATTEMPTED TO ACCEPT NEW AND IMPORTANT PARTY POLITICAL OBLIGATIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CONFIDENTIALITY AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF AN EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES.
"HONG KONG IS IN THEIR DEBT FOR THE SINCERITY AND GOODWILL THEY SHOWED IN SHOULDERING AN INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT POLITICAL BURDEN OVER THE LAST YEAR, HE ADDED.
THE NEW EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE A NON-PARTY POLITICAL PROVIDING IMPARTIAL ADVICE ON THE WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES COMING
THE ADMINISTRATION.
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