TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 144

IN HONG KONG. IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH

THIS NEW SYSTEM AND TO DEVELOP EXPERIENCE IN ITS OPERATION. IT IS

FOR THIS REASON THAT IT IS PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE THE NEW SYSTEM

PROGRESSIVELY BETWEEN 1985 AND 1992.

31. IN THE LIGHT OF HONG KONG'S SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SYSTEM NOW PROPOSED SHOULD MEET THE OBJECTIVES SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 7 ABOVE OF ROOTING THE AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT FIRMLY IN THE COMMUNITY, OF PROVIDING A CHANNEL FOR THE AUTHORITITIVE EXPRESSION OF THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF MAKING THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

CHAPTER 4 THE MAIN ISSUEDS FOR CONSIDERATION

32. THE MAIN ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING

THREE GENERAL HEADINGS -

(A) THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

THE ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER THIS HEADING INCLUDE WHETHER

THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEED TO BE

MODIFIED IN ANY WAY: WHETHER THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE CHANGED AND, IF SO, WHAT ITS COMPOSITION SHOULD BE:

HOW THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE SELECTED: WHAT SHOULD

BE THE ROLE OF OFFICIALS ON THE COUNCIL: AND WHEN SHOULD ANY

CHANGES RESULTING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THESE QUESTIONS BE

INTRODUCED.

THESE ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL IN CHAPTER 5.

(B) THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

SIMILAR ISSUES ARISE FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER THIS HEADING,

INCLUDING WHETHER THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL NEED TO BE CHANGED: WHETHER THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE MODIFIED AND, IF SO, HOW: HOW SHOULD THE

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL BE SELECTED: WHAT SHOULD BE THE

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL: WHAT SHOULD BE THE ROLE OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE ADMINISTRATION: AND WHEN SHOULD

ANY CHANGES STEMMING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THESE ISSUES BE

INTRODUCED.

THESE QUESTIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL IN CHAPTER 6.

(C) THE GOVERNOR

THE FUTURE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR RAISES A NUMBER OF

FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. THESE INCLUDE HIS POSITION AS HEAD OF THE ADMINISTRATION: HIS POSITION ON THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL: HIS POWERS OF APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO BOTH THE

EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS: THE METHOD BY WHICH HE

SHOULD BE SELECTED AND APPOINTED: AND WHEN SHOULD ANY

CHANGES RESULTING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THESE ISSUES BE

INTRODUCED.

SECRET

THESE