TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 303

SECRET

(D) 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.

DISTRICT BOARDS AND REGIONAL COUNCILS

8. AS POINTED OUT IN PARAGRAPHS 2 AND 3 ABOVE, PROPOSALS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MADE FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING

(A) A CHANGE IN THE COMPOSITION OF DISTRICT BOARDS INVOLVING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS WITH EFFECT FROM 1

APRIL 1985: AND

(B) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND REGIONAL COUNCIL, INITIALLY WITH AN ENTIRELY APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP, BUT WITH A MEMBERSHIP HALF APPOINTED AND HALF ELECTED WITH EFFECT FROM 1 APRIL 1986.

THIS MEMORANDUM DOES NOT MAKE ANY PROPOSALS FOR SUBSEQUENT CHANGES

IN THE PATTERN OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION BETWEEN 1986 AND 1997. THERE WILL, HOWEVER, UNDOUBTEDLY BE CHANGES, POSSIBLY INVOLVING A MOVE TOWARDS FULLY ELECTED DISTRICT BOARDS AND REGIONAL COUNCILS. ANY

SUCH CHANGES WILL AFFECT THE COMPOSITION OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

WHICH WILL ELECT MANY OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL (PARAGRAPHS 9 TO 15 BELOW).

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

(A) COMPOSITION

9. IT IS (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) PROPOSED THAT PROGRESSIVELY OVER THE NEXT DECADE THE UNOFFICIALS MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SOULD BE ELECTED -

-

(A) THROUGH ELECTIONS FROM AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE MADE UP OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND REGIONAL COUNCILS. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WOULD BE ABLE TO ELECT ANYONE WITH CERTAIN PRESCRIBED QUALIFICATIONS (E.G. AGE, MINIMUM LENGTH OF RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG), AND NOT NECESSARILY FROM AMONG THEIR NUMBER. IN THE INITIAL STAGES ALL MEMBERS BOTH ELECTED AND APPOINTED WOULD CONSTITUTE THE COLLEGE. AT A LATER STAGE IT MIGHT BE DESIRABLE TO CONFINE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO ELECTED MEMBERS

ONLY:

(B) THROUGH ELECTIONS FROM IDENTIFIED FUNCTIONAL GROUPS SUCH AS COMMERICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE LEGAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, LABOUR ORGANISATIONS, TRADITIONAL

ORGANSLATIONS, ETC.

A WORKING LINK AND A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE RETAINED BY CONTINUING TO APPOINT A NUMBER OF OFFICIALS AS MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

•

3

SECRET

110.