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GOVERNOR'S POWER TO APPOINT 2 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS MAY NEED
MORE DETAILED JUSTIFICATION.
(D) PARAGRAPHS 42 AND 67. THERE MAY BE A CASE FOR THE GOVERNOR
TO HAVE A PERMANENT SEAT IN LEGCO. THIS WOULD MAKE HIM
VISIBLY MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COUNCIL, AND THUS TO THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, IN HIS ROLE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE
TERRITORY. WE ARE NOT SURE WHETHER THIS SHOULD TAKE PLACE
ONLY IN THE LONG TERM (LAST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 42). WE WONDER WHETHER IT WOULD REALLY BE A LOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, IN
EVOLUTIONARY TERMS, FOR THE GOVERNOR, HAVING CEASED TO
PRESIDE OVER LEGCO, TO RETURN TO A SEAT IN LEGCO ONLY AT A
SUBSEQUENT STAGE IN THE COUNCIL'S DEVELOPMENT.
(E) PARAGRAPH 44, PENULTIMATE SENTENCE. IT WOULD NOT SEEM
STRICTLY NECESSARY FOR SENIOR OFFICIALS TO REMAIN AS MEMBERS OF LEGCO IN ORDER TO PRESENT PROPOSALS OR ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THEORETICALLY OTHER ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE INSTEAD.
PERHAPS THE POINT COULD BE SUPPORTED BY DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS.
(F) PARAGRAPHS 44 AND 60. WE SEE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE
PROPOSAL THAT THE CBF SHOULD REMAIN A MEMBER OF EXCO UNTIL
1997. WITHOUT WISHING TO DISPARAGE THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY
THE PRESENT INCUMBENT OR HIS PREDECESSORS, WE FEEL THAT THE
ORIGINAL REASONS FOR INCLUDING HIM ON EXCO ARE NO LONGER
PARTICULARLY VALID. MOREOVER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT GIVES
THE CHINESE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE A PLA COMMANDER ON
EXCO AFTER 1997, BY USING OUR OWN ARGUMENT OF MAKING THE
MINIMUM CHANGE AT THAT DATE. IN THE LIGHT OF DENG'S RECENT
REMARKS, THIS SEEMS TO US A VERY REAL THREAT. WE SHOULD
PREFER TO SEE CBF QUIETLY PHASED OUT AS PART OF THE
EVOLUTION PROCESS OUTLINED IN CHAPTER 6.
(G) PARAGRAPH 45. THIS APPEARS TO NEED SOME CLARIFICATION.
PRESUMABLY THE INTENTION IS TO REFER TO GENERAL CHANGE ONLY.
NO DOUBT DETAILED CHANGES WILL TAKE PLACE FOR OPERATIONAL OR
OTHER REASONS OVER THE PERIOD TO 1991.
(H) PARAGRAPH 46. YOU MAY LIKE TO CONSIDER GIVING THIS PROPOSAL
FULLER CONSIDERATION. THE POINT IN THE FINAL SENTENCE IS A
VALID ONE, BUT THERE MAY WELL BE CRITICISMS THAT THE ABSENCE
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