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(H) WE DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE THOUGHT OUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM. IN GOVERNMENT, AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBLITY MUST BE CLEAR: WE CANNOT HAVE EXCO MEMBERS HOLDING WATCHING BRIEFS'' (WHATEVER THAT MIGHT MEAN). IT IS NOT THE CASE THAT THIS HAPPENS IN AN INFORMAL WAY IN EXCO. THE COUNCIL ACTS COLLECTIVELY ON ALL ISSUES. THE DIFFICULTY OF THE KIND OF THOUGHT YOU HAVE IN MIND IS IN ANY CASE ILLUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT MR LO NO LONGER CHAIRS THE TAC, NOR DOES MISS DUNN CHAIR THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY. THERE IS THE FURTHER AND VERY IMPORTANT POINT THAT A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM COULD ONLY BE OPERATED WITH FULL TIME POLITICIANS ANSWERING TO AN ELECTORATE, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IN MY VIEW TO SEEK TO INTRODUCE SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD BE AN OPEN INVITATION TO THE COMMUNISTS TO GET THE IR NOMINEES INTO THE KEY POSITIONS. UNDER OUR PROPOSALS EVEN IF THE COMMUNISTS GOT A MEMBER ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HE COULD NOT DOMINATE ANY SECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE HE WOULD BE GIVEN NO INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IT WOULD BE SHARED COLLECTIVELY AMONG THE
MEMBERS AS A WHOLE.
(1) THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF IN THE REDRAFTED VERSION.
7. THERE IS ONE MORE GENERAL POINT. YOUR COMMENTS HAVE NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THAT THERE IS A TWO-FOLD PURPOSE IN THE PROPOSALS AS WE HAVE DESIGNED THEM. THEY AIM TO EXTEND POLITICAL POWER MORE DEEPLY INTO THE COMMUNITY: BUT THEY ALSO SEEK TO MAINTAIN THE ''CORPORATE FORMAT OF THE ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO REDUCE WHEREVER POSSIBLE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMBITIOUS INDIVIDUALS ON EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT TO DOMINATE PARTICULAR AREAS OF GOVERNMENT. I HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE MADE VERY CLEAR IN YOUR SUBMISSION TO MINISTERS. IT IS NOT A POINT THAT WE CAN MAKE PUBLICLY: BUT IT IS ONE WHICH MUST BE KEPT FIRMLY IN MIND.
YOUDE LIMITED
HD HKD
•
HD FED
MR WILSON
COPIES TO
MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS SIRP CRADOCK.
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