TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 2

The purpose of this memorandum is to put forward proposals, for Members' consideration, on the next steps which should be taken to develop the constitutional and governmental structure of Hong Kong, following the implementation of the proposals for the further development of local administration during the period before 1997.

5

The aim is to have firmly established by 1997 a structure of government which has the source of political power rooted firmly in

firmly in the Hong

Hong Kong

Kong community; to this end the structure should be in place by the early 1990s. It will therefore be necessary for an early start to be made on the development of a more representative system of government, and for the process of development to be completed by stages within the next ten years.

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The proposals in this memorandum are for

(a)

the

(b)

(c)

(d)

progressive replacement of the appointed unofficial members of the Legislative Council by members elected indirectly-

→

(i) by an electoral college of

Regional Council and District Board members; and

(ii) by functional groups,

together with a gradual reduction in the number of official members of the Legislative Council;

the replacement of the Governor as President of the Legislative Council by a Speaker elected by the Unofficial members of the Legislative Council from among their number;

the progressive majority of the

replacement of the appointed Unofficial Executive Council by

Members of the Members elected by the unofficial members of the Legislative Council from among their number; and

at a later stage, appointment to the post of Governor to follow a process of consultation in Hong Kong, confirmed by some form of election from an electoral college.

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