TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 278

Redacted under FOI Exemption S40 S41

GAS 950 SECRET

SECRET HKK.

RECEIVED

(26)

01113

JAY

13 APRA COF

DESKBY 1109GCZ

FM HONG KONG 110750Z APR 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1001 OF 11 APRIL

ལན

IAK

115

Cadillo

→

FOR CLIFT FROM HADDON-CAVE

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT.

MEMORANDUM XCS(84)8 WAS DISCUSSED IN EXCO ON 10 APRIL. IT WAS GENERALLY WELL RECEIVED, ALBEIT WITH SOME RESIGNATION AND MEMBERS' ÇOMMENTS ON MATTERS OF DETAIL INDICATED THEIR INNATELY CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO THESE MATTERS AND THEIR ANXIETY ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO RETAIN EFFECTIVE POWER UP TC 1997.

2.

WAS CLEARLY THE MEMBER WITH THE MOST RESERVATIONS,

EXPRESSED AS APPREHENSION THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A CLEARLY DEFINED

GOVERNMENT PARTY AND THAT LEGCO WOULD BE REDUCED TO DEAL-MAKING

FACTIONS. POLICY MAKING IN THESE CONDITIONS WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.

NOR WERE THE DISTRICT BOARDS ADEQUATE GUARANTORS OF CANDIDATES OF QUALITY FOR ELECTIOR. FOR THESE REASONS, HE WISHED TO RETAIN

AN APPOINTED ELEMENT IN THE MAKE UP. THE GOVERNOR STRESSED THE

DANGERS OF THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT BEING RETAINED BY THE

SUCCESSOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

3.

ARGUED THAT THE CONSTITUENCIES COMPRISING THE

FUNCTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS' CAUCUS SHOULD BE WEIGHTED IN FAVOUR OF

INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS, ON THE GROUNDS THAT LABOUR ORGANISATIONS AND ACADEMIC GROUPS, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE LIKELY TO THROW UP POPULIST

FIGURES WHO WOULD COME FORWARD THROUGH THE DISTRICT BOARD NETWORK.

4.

THEL GAINED SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR HIS PROPOSAL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A BALANCE BETWEEN THOSE ELECTED BY THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THOSE ELECTED BY THE FUNCTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. THE GENERAL

FEELING WAS THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED WITH A MAJORITY, AND THAT TO DRAW MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM THE FUNCTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WOULD BE ''NO LESS DEMOCRATIC***

5.

TOOK THE LINE THAT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SHOULD ELECT ONLY DISTRICT BOARD REPRESENTATIVES, ON THE GROUNDS (A) THAT THEY WOULD WISH TO CONFINE THEMSELVES TO THOSE WHOM THEY KNEW, AND (2) THAT THIS WOULD BE A NECESSARY INDUCEMENT TO GET GOOD QUALITY CANDIDATES ON THE BOARDS.

RECEIVED NO SUPPORT). ALSO

ARGUED THAT APPOINTED MEMBERS SHOULD BE RETAINED ON DISTRICT BOARDS AND SHOULD, THEREFORE, REMAIN A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE MADE UP OF MEMBEPS OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.

ARGUED THAT THIS WOULD PRONOTE **INTERNAL COHESION''.

SECRET

/AGREED