XN000022-1990-03-21 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990

"THIS WILL ALLOW GREATER FLEXIBILITY, IN THAT THE SECRETARY DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A PARTICULAR SUBJECT WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND BEFORE COUNCIL TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION AND TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS. THE LATTER, WE FEEL CERTAIN, WILL BE A DISTINCT IMPROVEMENT OVER PRESENT PRACTICE.

"IT WILL ALSO HELP PREPARE US FOR THE POSITION AFTER 1997 WHEN ALL OFFICIALS WILL HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THIS COUNCIL AND WILL SIT ONLY IN ATTENDANCE," SIR DAVID SAID.

CHANGES, TAKEN

17.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THESE TOGETHER WITH THE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS TO WOULD PRODUCE A COUNCIL OF 60 MEMBERS, COMPRISING THREE ROUGHLY EQUAL PARTS: DIRECTLY ELECTED, FUNCTIONAL AND APPOINTED.

IN 1995, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE ELECTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FROM AMONG THEMSELVES.

"THE INDIVIDUAL CHOSEN, ONCE HE TAKES OFFICE, WILL BE OBLIGED TO BE COMPLETELY NEUTRAL IN HIS DEALINGS WITH ALL MEMBERS. TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THIS CHANGE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO APPOINT A DEPUTY PRESIDENT TO COUNCIL ΤΟ PRESIDE OVER SOME OF ITS MEETINGS," THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR INTENDED ΤΟ APPOINT TO THIS OFFICE SOMEONE WHO HAD BROAD EXPERIENCE OF THE WORKINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

“IT IS OUR INTENTION THAT THIS CHANGE BE INTRODUCED GRADUALLY. THE GOVERNOR WILL ATTEND IMPORTANT MEETINGS, SUCH AS THOSE ON THE BUDGET, AND THE TRADITION OF THE GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS TO COUNCIL WILL OF COURSE BE CONTINUED, HE SAID.

SIR

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TURNING TO THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1991 ELECTIONS, DAVID NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MUCH DEBATE ABOUT THE TYPE OF CONSTITUENCIES TO BE USED IN THE ELECTIONS, WITH SOME FAVOURING SINGLE SEAT, SOME DOUBLE SEAT AND OTHERS REGIONAL, MULTI-SEAT CONSTITUENCIES.

"WE HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE NINE DOUBLE SEAT CONSTITUENCIES, KEEPING CLOSELY TO THE DISTRICT BOARD BOUNDARIES, HE SAID.

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL REASONS BEHIND THIS. "FIRST WE WANT TO BUILD ON THE SENSE OF DISTRICT IDENTITY, WHILE PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WITHOUT FAVOURING ANY PARTICULAR GROUP.

"

DISRUPTION

"SECONDLY, THERE IS A PRACTICAL NEED TO AVOID THE WHICH A CHANGE IN BOUNDARIES WOULD PRODUCE. AND THIRDLY, WE RECOGNISE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH A DYNAMIC SITUATION, IN WHICH OUR DEVELOPMENT PLANS CONTINUOUSLY CHANGE THE SHAPE OF HONG KONG,' HE SAID.

TH

/THE NINE