XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 49

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992

"I AM, THEREFORE, APPOINTING TO EXCO INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE ME COMMUNITY, DISTINGUISHED IN THEIR OWN WALKS OF LIFE, WHO CAN GIVE ADVICE WITHOUT THE CONFLICTING LOYALTIES OF ACTIVE DAY-TO-DAY POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT.

"THERE WILL ALSO BE A NUMBER OF SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THE COUNCIL,' MR PATTEN SAID.

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ON

IT WAS INTENDED THAT EXCO SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME ON STRATEGIC ISSUES, AND LESS ON THE "MINUTIAE OF GOVERNMENT".

"I

SHALL BE ASKING ITS NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS FROM TIME TO TIME TO DEVELOP POLICIES WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IN THOSE FIELDS WHERE THEY HAVE PARTICULAR EXPERTISE.

*THOSE WILL BE

THE POLICIES WHICH IT WILL THEN BE THE ADMINISTRATION'S TASK TO EXPLAIN TO THIS COUNCIL, AND TO PERSUADE THIS COUNCIL TO ADOPT AND DEVELOP.

"WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS IN PRACTICE IS CREATIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND YOU," HE SAID.

LEGCO PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TOLD LEGCO MEMBERS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE WISHED TO HAND OVER THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRESIDING OVER THE COUNCIL TO A PRESIDENT ELECTED BY THEM AS SOON AS THE NECESSARY FORMALITIES COULD BE COMPLETED.

AS THE

TO

"THIS WILL MEAN THAT, IN FUTURE, I WILL BE ANSWERABLE HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE TO THIS COUNCIL RATHER THAN BEING RESTRICTED THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT, HE SAID IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS.

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MEMBERS MEMBERS

PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IF AGREED, HE PROPOSED TO MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO ANSWER

ON AND TO DISCUSS GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROPOSALS, QUESTIONS LEAST ONE THURSDAY EVERY MONTH WHEN LEGCO WAS IN SESSION.

AT

"I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO THIS COUNCIL TO REPORT ON MAJOR TRIPS ABROAD LIKE MY TRIP TO CHINA AND ON OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS. WE WILL OBVIOUSLY NEED TO WORK OUT TOGETHER EXACTLY HOW THESE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BEST BE MADE TO WORK."

MR PATTEN EXPLAINED THAT SEPARATING THE NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERSHIP OF EXCO AND LEGCO IMPLIED THAT "LEGCO MUST BE LEFT FREE RUN ITS OWN AFFAIRS AND, IN THE PROCESS, ΤΟ DEVELOP FURTHER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT",

ΤΟ

ITS

"THAT IS THE POSITION NOW LAID DOWN IN THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS, AND WILL BE THE POSITION, SET OUT IN ARTICLE 75 OF THE BASIC LAW, THE FUTURE."

IN

THE GOVERNOR BELIEVED THAT HANDING OVER THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT PRESIDING OVER THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS AN IMPORTANT MOVE IN DIRECTION.

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