XN000022-1985-10-20 — Page 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1985

LINKS CAN ONLY BE STRENGTHENED

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THE LINKS BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE CAN ONLY BE STRENGTHENED IN HONG KONG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM A REPORTER ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FACT THAT TWO OUT OF FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHOSE APPOINTMENTS WERE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, WERE MEMBERS OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE AND THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE NOT LINKED TO THEIR WORK ON THE BASIC LAW.

+THE MEMBERS WHICH HAVE BEEN APPOINTED PROFESSOR POON FROM THE UNIVERSITY NOT ONLY COMES FROM THE UNIVERSITY BUT ALSO HAS A VERY GOOD PUBLIC RECORD OF HELPING THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND MRS ROSANNA TAM, OF COURSE, COMING FROM THE FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS, ALSO REPRESENTS A VERY IMPORTANT CONSTITUENCY, + HE SAID.

ON THE REMAINING MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED TO LEGCO, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD TO THINK ABOUT MAKING THESE APPOINTMENTS VERY CAREFULLY, AND THE FINAL APPOINTMENT HAD YET TO BE ANNOUNCED.

+I EXPECT THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH, + HE SAID.

+THE CRITERIA, REALLY IS TO GET A WELL BALANCED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND IN THAT PROCESS THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE VERY CAREFUL,+ HE ADDED.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY DECLINED TO SPECULATE ON WHETHER THE REMAINING APPOINTEE WILL COME FROM THE +GRASS ROOTS+.

+I DON'T LIKE DIVIDING HONG KONG INTO GRASS ROOTS AND

OTHER PEOPLE, MYSELF, HE ADDED.

AS FOR THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN FUTURE, SIR DAVID SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE DIVIDED AMONG PEOPLE LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO COULD SPEAK FOR LAW AND ORDER AND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF IT.

+AND I MYSELF WILL HAVE TO PICK UP SOME OF THE WORK,

| EXPECT,+ HE SAID.

ASKED WHETHER THE POST OF THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY COULD BE DIVIDED IN A SIMILAR WAY, SIR DAVID SAID, +WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY GOT 10 POSTS TO DIVIDE UP AMONG SO MANY SECRETARIES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME HEROIC DECISIONS, +

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AS FOR WHETHER MORE OFFICIALS WILL BE LEAVING LEGCO, CHIEF SECRETARY SAID. +I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO WAIT AND SEE WHETHER THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL GET SATISFACTORY ANSWERS TO THE IR QUESTIONS.+

SIR DAVID .......