XN000022-1988-07-14 — Page 14

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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1988

HE ALSO SPOKE AGAINST THE GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONCEPT AS PUT FORWARD BY THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL GROUP OF 81. HE SAID THAT FROM THE BOOKLET PUBLISHED BY THE GROUP, ONE COULD SEE THAT THE GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE WOULD CONSIST OF MAINLY PEOPLE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.

FROM THE

TO

OF

THEREFORE, THE PERSON CHOSEN BY THE GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE BE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS THESE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, AND YET HE WAS NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE OF THE SAR.

"IF SUCH A CHIEF EXECUTIVE WISHES TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM, HE WILL MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS FROM THESE SECTORS BY MAKING PROMISES TO THEM WHICH MAY NOT BK IN THE INTERESTS OF THE HKSAR AS A WHOLE, HE SAID.

"

AS TO THE LEGISLATURE, IT WAS PROPOSED BY THE GROUP OF 81 THAT 25 PER CENT OF THE MEMBERS SHOULD BE ELECTED BY THE GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

"BUT THIS IS REALLY AN APPOINTMENT SYSTEM, FOR THE RESULT CAN BE VERY EASILY MANIPULATED,

" HE SAID.

MR LEE SAID HE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT ONE OBJECT FOR THIS PROPOSAL WAS ΤΟ ENABLE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS то BE "ELECTED" INTO THE LEGISLATURE, SO AS TO PRESERVE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF HAVING OFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THIS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE WAS PROPOSED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A PRE-DETERMINED RESULT.

"BUT THERE IS NO REASON TO PROVIDE FOR SUCH AN ELABORATE AND UNSATISFACTORY SYSTEM OF ELECTION JUST TO CATER FOR THESE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS. SURELY THERE ARE BETTER ALTERNATIVES, HE SAID.

THE FIRST WAS TO HAVE WHAT WAS COMMONLY CALLED THE MINISTERIAL SYSTEM WHEREBY THE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS WOULD BE NOMINATED FROM THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO WOULD THEN BE APPOINTED CHINA AS PROVIDED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.

BY

THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE WAS TO PROVIDE IN THE BASIC LAW THAT PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN ALL MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BUT WITHOUT A VOTE.

THEY WOULD ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND MOVE BILLS ON BEHALF OF THE

EXECUTIVE.

THIS WAS REALLY FOLLOWING THE PRESENT PRACTICE IN THE COMMITTEE, WHERE THE EX-OFFICIO GOVERNMENT MEMBERS WERE VOTE.

NOT

FINANCE GIVEN

A

/MR LEE