TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 56

ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY A LOCAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS WOULD LEAD TO

A CHOICE CONFIRMED BY ELECTION.

18. AN ELECTION FOR THE POST OF GOVERNOR BASED ON THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL ALONE WOULD NOT GIVE HIM SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY AND

STANDING IN THE COOMUNITY, BUT THE BODY OF ELECTORS SHOULD NOT

SE SO LARGE AS TO RULE OUT A PRIOR STAGE OF INFORMED CONSULTATION.

A COLLEGIATE ELECTION BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL

COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BEST SERVE THE PURPOSE.

EVEN NOW, THIS ELECTORATE WOULD COMPRISE NEARLY 200 MEMBERS.

IT WOULD GROW SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS ASSUMING

THE REVIEW MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 12 ABOVE RESULTS IN THE

INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS

OVER THE NEXT DECADE: AND TO THE EXTENT THAT AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE

OF PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED

TO GENERATE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

19. ONCE THE COLLEGIATE ELECTIVE SYSTEM FOR LEGCO AND THE GOVERNOR

WERE ESTABLISHED, IT WOULD BE FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER THERE

SHOULD BE A FURTHER MOVE TO DIRECT ELECTIONS BY ALL REGISTERED

VOTERS. BUT THIS CONSIDERATION WOULD HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE

FACTORS SET OUT IN PARAS 11 AND 12.

20. THE GOVERNOR WOULD NEED A DEPUTY TO ACT IN CASE OF ILLNESS,

ABSENCE OR DEATH. HE COULD BE ELECTED BY THE SAME PROCESS. THE

DEPUTY WOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND PRESIDE IN

THE ABSENCE OF THE GOVERNOR.

21. THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A CHANGE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. HE WOULD STILL CHAIR THE COUNCIL BUT

AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT HE WOULD BE BOUND TO ACCEPT

AND IMPLEMENT THE COUNCIL'S DECISIONS, UNLESS THERE WERE AREAS RESERVED FOR HIS PERSONAL DECISION BY LAW. SINCE NO GOVERNOR HAS

GONE AGAINST THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN LIVING MEMORY

THIS WOULD ONLY FORMALISE AN EXISTING SITUATION. MOREOVER THE

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD ITSELF HAVE BEEN LARGELY ELECTED BY THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WOULD THUS HAVE A POLITICAL LEGITIMACY IN

ITS OWN RIGHT.

22. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE GOVERNOR TO THE JUDICIARY WOULD BE

SUBSTANTIALLY UNCHANGED.

CONSULTATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

23. AS MENTIONED ABOVE, THE ELECTIONS IN 1985 AND 1996 PROVIDE

A READY MADE OPPORTUNITY FOR LAUNCHING THE FIRST STEP IN THE

SEQUENCE OF WIDENING THE ROLE OF ELECTIONS IN THE TERRITORY.

PARAGRAPH 13 REFERS TO THE REVIEW OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHICH

SECRE

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