SECRET
8.
(Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils) are of great importance to the smooth functioning of Government, and members look to the Governor to ensure that the appointments he makes cre compatible with these being maintained. The functions of members of UMELCO are much more akin to those of Ministers (both Cabinet and non-Cabinet) than of back- benchers - though the analogy cannot be carried too far. They form an effective and devoted team spending between one-third and one-half of their time on public business and working very closely with senior officials behind the scenes and in public on the initiation and preparation not only of legislation, but of a wide field of administrative activity and policy formation. They have constant access to graded papers; for instance Executive Council papers are nearly all distributed to all UMELCO members. It is very important that appointments to the Legislative Council are compatible with this close partnership with the official side of government, based as it is on trust and confidence, Yet a further consideration is that it is not easy to get men and women of the necessary calibre to take on work which is so arduous, and it is necessary to be very careful not to make this exacting service unacceptable by the introduction of excessively dis- ruptive or abraisive or publicity-seeking personalities. Visitors from England, seeking for Parliamentary equivalents, find the role of members of UMELCO hard to grasp and are inclined to yearn for the sort of "no-holds-barred" atmosphere of the House. It should not be assumed that the latter would necessarily be in the interest of effective government in the circum- stances of Hong Kong in which UMELCO combines the functions not only of front and back benches but also of Government and Opposition.
17.
But I must conclude this section by emphasising that whether more elected Urban Councillors were appointed to the Legislative Council, or whether other steps were taken to broaden the Council's membership, would not be relevant to what I regard as the real local wish and requirement, namely the transfer of some overt responsibility and power into the hands of local personalities.
18.
To sum up, this despatch favours a move to what is conventionally called a 'member' system.
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.