بر
15.
SECRET
local Unofficial members of UMELCO by means of a "Member" system, in which appointed Unofficial Members would assume executive responsibility for some defined fields but not all. The fields chosen would be coincidental with those for which some Secretaries are now responsible, and the latters' relationship with Members would in some respects be similar to that of a PUS with his Minister.
27. appeal to the public, and would assist Government in its responsiveness to public opinion. It would
Such a move would certainly
to some extent also counteract such ill-founded suspicion as there may be on the part of the public that because visible power is in the hands of British expatriates, Hong Kong interests are perpetually subjected to British ones. with the steady increase in the Chinese members of the Civil Service expected to reach the higher ranks in the next 7-10 years, such a move could give a decidely more local and Chinese look to the Government.
28.
Coupled
Under such a system Unofficial Membership of Executive Council would consist of "Members" plus perhaps one or two elder statesman. The Executive Council would assume the functions of an inner cabinet, and the "Members", supported by Secretaries and Heads of principal Departments would be responsible for the subsequent handling in the Legislative Council of decisions taken in the Executive Council. I should add that to some extent in anticipation of such a move, a year ago I made it clear that in future I would not recommend members of the Legislative Council for appointment to the Executive Council unless they were prepared to continue to serve on both Councils. The overt reason given was the need for overlap between the two councils, but such an overlap is a prerequisite for the assumption by members of Executive Council of executive responsibility in the Legislative Council.
29.
While this is the directinn in which I believe we should move, we should do so with caution:
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