XN000022-1989-08-14 — Page 6

MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1989

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CENTRAL ISSUE WAS THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDED FOR A FULLY-ELECTED

COUNCIL·

LEGISLATIVE

"IF THE PROPOSALS REGARDING THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL INCLUDED IN THE PRESENT DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW ARE ADOPTED, WE SHALL BY 1995 HAVE A FULLY-ELECTED COUNCIL.

"IN

OTHER WORDS, A COUNCIL WITH NO OFFICIALS, AND NO APPOINTED MEMBERS, MR WIGGHAM SAID.

THE QUESTIONS HE ASKED WERE: HOW SHOULD WE THEN PHASE OUT THE ROLE OF OFFICIALS, WHO AT PRESENT PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PRACTICAL ROLE IN CONDUCTING GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL; WHAT WAS THE APPROPRIATE RATE OF CHANGE FOR APPOINTED MEMBERS, AND THE QUESTION OF THE PRESIDENCY OF LECCO, HITHERTO HELD BY THE GOVERNOR.

BODY

"AS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEVELOPS INTO A FULLY-ELECTED WITH NO OFFICIALS AS MEMBERS, THE EXISTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CLEARLY CANNOT CONTINUE, HE SAID.

[[]

A NEW SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO EVOLVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE TEST OF ANY NEW SYSTEM WOULD LIE IN ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

ON THE CONSIDERATION OF HOW QUICKLY WE BROUGHT IN CHANGES, WIGGHAM SAID ONE ARGUMENT WAS THAT WE SHOULD MAKE AN EARLY START THAT PEOPLE COULD GET USED TO THEM, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF A MEASURED PACE SO AS ΤΟ MINIMISE REPERCUSSIONS TO THE STABILITY OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM.

│

"A CAREFUL BALANCE WILL HAVE TO BE STRUCK, HE ADDED.

MR

30

PRACTICAL POSSIBLE

LAW, MR

TURNING TO THE ECONOMY PROVISIONS IN THE DRAFT BASIC WIGGHAM SAID HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PROMINENCE, AFTER 1997, AS A LEADING COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD HINGED LARGELY ON THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR EXISTING FRAMEWORK, WHICH HAD OVER THE YEARS PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR OUR SPECTACULAR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

"TO THIS END THE BASIC LAW DRAFTERS HAVE TAKEN GREAT PAINS то ENSURE THAT THE HITHERTO WELL-TRIED SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES ARE FOR THE MOST PART TRANSPLANTED TO THE MINI-CONSTITUTION. THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE," HE SAID.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS MIGHT BE DESIRABLE POLICY OBJECTIVES, WE NEEDED TO THINK TWICE ABOUT THEIR SUITABILITY, AS WORDED IN THE PRESENT DRAFT, FOR INCLUSION IN LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENT.

A

"ARTICLE 106,