I
2
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1993
THIRDLY, THIS
COUNCIL HAS IN TURN TAKEN DECISIONS ON HOW IT RUNS ITS OWN AFFAIRS. IT HAS, FOR EXAMPLE, INSTITUTED A SERIES OF REFORMS TO ITS PROCEDURES AND COMMITTEE STRUCTURE. AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE WELL ON THE WAY TO ESTABLISHING YOUR OWN SECRETARIAT SUPPORT IN A PROPER, STATUTORY FOOTING.
ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE WELL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK
OF HONG KONG'S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE MAPPED OUT IN THE PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS, I.E. THE LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS, AND THE FUTURE CONSTITUTION OF THE HONG KONG SAR, I.E. THE BASIC
LAW.
THEY ARE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENTS. SOME MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT DEVELOPING FURTHER TOWARDS A "MINISTERIAL" OR "QUASI-MINISTERIAL" SYSTEM OF
SYSTEM OF SOME SORT EITHER NOW OR AFTER 1997. I SHOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT SUCH A SYSTEM IS NOT ENVISAGED IN THE CURRENT CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS OR, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IN THE BASIC LAW. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD BUILD ON WHAT HAS PROVED TO WORK WELL, RATHER THAN DISCARD IT ALL FOR SOME IMPORTED SYSTEM THE SUITABILITY OF WHICH FOR HONG KONG IS UNTESTED.
So,
THE
CAN
ON THE WHOLE, I BELIEVE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE IS DEVELOPING ALONG A PATH THAT MEETS OUR OBJECTIVE. BUT EQUALLY CLEARLY, THERE SHOULD BE STEPS THAT COULD BE TAKEN TO OIL THE MACHINERY AND TO MAKE IT WORK SMOOTHER. ONE PROPOSAL THAT WAS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS LEGCO ADDRESS WAS TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT-LEGCO COMMITTEE, WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION DISCUSS WITH MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THE HANDLING OF ADMINISTRATION'S LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL PROGRAMMES. WE HAVE NOT YET ESTABLISHED SUCH A COMMITTEE BUT, IF MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND I DO RECOGNISE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT VIEWS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS PROPOSAL FURTHER FORWARD, WE ON OUR PART WOULD BE PERFECTLY HAPPY TO COOPERATE.
THE
SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE ALLEGED THAT THERE IS SOMEHOW A COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHEN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TAKES A VIEW ON CERTAIN POLICY ISSUES WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THEIRS. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THESE TWO COUNCILS. IT IS FOR THE GOVERNOR, ON THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, TO TAKE DECISIONS ON POLICIES, AND ON THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS TO THIS COUNCIL. IT IS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S ROLE TO DEBATE THESE POLICY DECISIONS, AND TO DECIDE ON WHETHER THE LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS SHOULD BE APPROVED. IN AN IDEAL WORLD EVERYONE WOULD SEE EYE TO EYE ON EVERYTHING AND AGREE WITH EACH OTHER. BUT WE DON'T LIVE IN AN IDEAL WORLD MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, FOR EXAMPLE, DO NOT ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE WITH EACH OTHER. IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY LIKE OURS THAT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN; IN AN OPEN SOCIETY LIKES OURS THAT HAPPENS PUBLICLY.
THERE ARE