TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 78

SECRET

18908 1

-

EXECUTIVE, AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, REGIONAL

COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS.

9. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AS THEY EXISTED

IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO 1 JULY 1997, WOULD ALSO REMAIN LARGELY

UNCHANGED, ALTHOUGH SOME CHANGES WOULD BE NECESSARY AS A RESULT

OF THE REMOVAL OF CONSTITUTIONAL LINKS WITH THE UK.

10.

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND HIS DEPUTY WOULD BE ELECTED IN

ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE PERSONS SO ELECTED WOULD BE FORMALLY APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL

PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT. THEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE

PREMATURELY ONLY ON GROUNDS OF MISBEHAVIOUR OR INFIRMITY AND BY A

RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

11.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL WOULD BE SELECTED BY AN ELECTIVE PROCESS.

12. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD DECIDE ALL IMPORTANT MATTERS OF

POLICY WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE SAR AS LAID DOWN BY THE BASIC

LAW. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD PRESIDE AT ITS MEETINGS.

13. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AS THE SUPREME ORGAN OF THE SAR,

WOULD MAKE LAWS WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE SAR AS LAID DOWN BY

THE BASIC LAW. ALL PROPOSALS ENTAILING THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC

FUNDS WOULD REQUIRE ITS APPROVAL.

14. REGIONAL COUNCILS WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE PROVISION OF

LOCAL SERVICES.

15. DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD PROVIDE A FORUM FOR PUBLIC

CONSULTATION AND DICUSSION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND WOULD ALSO

HAVE CERTAIN LOCAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS.

16. THE DETAILED COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS, PROCEDURES, POWERS AND DUTIES AND METHODS OF APPOINTMENT OF ALL THE ABOVE INSTITUTIONS

WOULD DEPEND UPON THE EVOLUTION OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

STRUCTURES IN THE PERIOD PRIOR TO 1 JULY 1997. THEY WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED ON THIS DATE, EXCEPT WHERE ANY CHANGES WERE NECESSARY AS A RESULT OF THE REMOVAL OF CONSTITUTIONAL LINKS WITH THE UK.

17. THERE WOULD BE A CENTRAL SECRETARIAT TOGETHER WITH

DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WITH EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES. THE

SECRETARIAT, DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE STAFFED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WHO WOULD, APART FROM

3

SECRET