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SECRET
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The advantages in terms of stability in building as far as possible on existing institutions.
The need to devise a system which can credibly be represented as giving expression to the wishes of the people of Hong Kong.
POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS
9. Members are considering XCX (84) 4 on the further development of the District Administration System. The proposal to extend the elective system at Urban Council level through the establishment of a second Regional Council with at least half its members directly elected would create a territory-wide constituency based elective system at both District Board and Urban Council levels. The same constituencies, or combinations of them, could be the basis for direct elections. Alternatively members elected from these constituencies to Regional Councils and District Boards could provide the membership of the electoral college mentioned in paragraph 6(a)(i) above. Representative organisations for industry, commerce and the professions already exist. It might be necessary to arrange for some collaboration among them for the purpose of electing members to the Legislative Council.
10. In deciding the future Government structure, careful consideration would need to be given to the relationship of the Governor or Chief Executive with the Executive Council. Under nost likely systems 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
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.
TIMESCALE
11.
Whichever method or combination of methods were chosen, any new system should be implemented during the course of the next decade. This would ensure that changes were brought about in good time
SECRET
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