TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 151

COUNCILS. THE CANDIDATE SO SELECTED, WHO WOULD HAVE TO BE A HONG KONG BELONGER, WOULD THEN BEEEERECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT

AS GOVERNOR BY THE QUEEN.

59. IT IS NOT ENVISAGED THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY CHANGE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DIRECTION OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG

60. HOWEVER, IF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS ADOPTED THE GOVERNOR WOULD NO LONGER RETAIN HIS POWER TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THAT COUNCIL. SIMILARLY, IF THE MAJORITY OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE TO BE ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR'S POWER TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE LIMITED TO 2 MEMBERS.

61. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD CEASE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND BE REPLACED BY A PRESIDING OFFICER ELECTED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM AMONG THEIR OWN NUMBER. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THIS CHANGE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED PROGRESSIVELY AND THAT THE FIRST PRESIDING OFFICER SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN 1986 AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THAT IS TO SAY, THIS CHANGE WOULD OCCUR IN THE YEAR AFTER THE FIRST STAGE OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTING THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN PLACE. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE TERM OF OFFICE OF THE FIRST PRESIDING OFFICER SHOULD BE FOR TWO YEARS. THEN, IN 1988, AFTER THE SECOND STAGE OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTING THE

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN PLACE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT A NEW PRESIDING OFFICER SHOULD BE ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE MEMBERS. THEREAFTER A NEW PRESIDING OFFICER WOULD BE ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL EVERY THREE YEARS, FOLLOWING

THE ELECTIONS OF THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

62. EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR WOULD CEASE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1986 IT IS ENVISAGED THAT HE WOULD ATTEND UPON THE COUNCIL TO DELIVER AN ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE COUNCIL IN HIS ROLE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT THE OPENING OF EACH SESSION IN OCTOBER. PROVISION WOULD ALSO REMAIN IN THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS OR ATTEND THE COUNCIL ON ANY OTHER OCCASION ON WHICH HE CONSIDERED

IT TO BE APPROPRIATE OR NECESSARY.

63. IN THE CASE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESIDE OVER ITS PROCEEDINGS IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT IN 1991, AFTER THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS HAVE BEEN FULLY INTRODUCED BUT BEFORE THE PROPOSED NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SELECTION OF THE GOVERNOR THROUGH AN ELECTORAL PROCESS ARE BROUGHT INTO EFFECT IN 1992, THE GOVERNOR'S PRESENT POWERS TO DECIDE WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL AND TO ACT IN OPPOSITION TO THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH ARE RARELY,

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