XN000022-1985-05-19 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 1985

TUESDAY MEETINGS THAT DECIDE HONG KONG POLICY

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EVERY TUESDAY, IN A SMALL ROOM IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE GATHER TO MAKE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN HONG KONG,

LED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE GROUP COMPRISING BOTH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY, DISCUSS A WIDE RANGE OF MATTERS.

THEY MAY TALK ABOUT -- AS THEY INVARIABLY DO -- PROPOSED LEGISLATION. THEY MAY CONFER AND ADVISE ABOUT THE REFUGEE PROBLEM AND, PERHAPS, ABOUT THE URGENT DECISION THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN TO DEAL WITH IT. OR, THEY MAY PONDER TRADE MATTERS, THE STATE OF THE HONG KONG CURRENCY, AND EVEN THE ACTIVITY OF THE STOCK MARKET.

THEY MAY DELIBERATE ON LAND POLICY, PUBLIC UTILITIES, PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND CHARGES, FRANCHISES, OR ANY OF A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS ALL OF THEM OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE EVERYDAY RUNNING OF THIS *CITY, OR TO ITS LONG-TERM PLANNING,

THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO, BY VIRTUE OF THE DIFFERENT FIELDS THEY REPRESENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE SECTOR, ADVISE THE GOVERNOR IN HIS ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG AS THE QUEEN'S APPOINTEE AND REPRESENTATIVE.

SHORT.

THESE PEOPLE MAKE UP THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

OR EXCO FOR

THEY ARE, TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, HONG KONG'S CABINET.

IN RECENT YEARS, UNOFFICIALS CHOSEN HAVE INCLUDED A SCIENTIFIC TECHNOCRAT, THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING BANKS, DIRECTORS OF OTHERS, BUSINESSMEN, FINANCIERS, DOCTORS, AND ACCOUNTANTS.

ON BEING NOMINATED TO EXCO, THE UNOFFICIALS, LIKE THE OFFICIALS, SWEAR TO GIVE PERSONAL AND INDEPENDENT ADVICE AND COUNSEL ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSCIENCE FOR THE GOOD MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG.+

WE HAVE IT, IN THE WORDS OF THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JOHN GRIFFITHS, WRITING IN THE 1983 HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT THE WORK OF EXCO, THAT:

+POLICY DECISIONS ARE BASED UPON CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE

OF THE PEOPLE QUALIFIED BY JUDGEMENT OF WHAT IS PRACTICABLE AT ANY TIME, AND NEVER CONSCIOUSLY ASCRIBED TO ANY POLITICAL THEORY. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY. THOSE POLICIES ARE FASHIONED AND HONED FOLLOWING A MOST ELABORATE AND WIDESPREAD NETWORK OF CONSULTATION HONG KONG'S VERSION OF ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY.+

/EXCO, IN .............