TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 56

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52. AS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT IS INTENDED THAT THE

ARRANGEMENTS FOR INTRODUCING A MORE REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENT INTO THE

COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE INTRODUCED PROGRESS-

IVELY. AGAIN, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PERIOD OF OFFICE OF

ELECTED MEMBERS OF BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS

WOULD BE FOR THREE YEARS, SO AS TO FIT IN WITH THE ELECTORAL CYCLE

FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE REGIONAL COUNCILS, IT IS PROPOSED

THAT, TO START WITH, FOUR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ELECTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1988,

FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THAT YEAR.

ANOTHER FOUR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD PROBABLY BE ELECTED IN 1991.

33. THE FOLLOWING TABLE ILLUSTRATES THE ABOVE PROPOSALS

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS

CURRENT

1988

1991

(A) ELECTED BY LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL

1.0

4

8

(B) APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR

12

8

2

(C) EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

4

4

4

TOTAL

16

16

14

54. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSALS FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL IN 1991 MAY BE SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE

REVIEW OF THE POSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH IT IS PROPOSED

SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN 1989.

55. THE GOVERNOR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS DEALT

WITH IN CHAPTER 7.

56. SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FROM TIME TO TIME THAT UNOFFICIAL

MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS SHOULD PLAY A

GREATER PART IN THE ADMINISTRATION BY ASSUMING SOME SORT OF

EXECUTIVE ROLE, SIMILAR TO THE MINISTERIAL FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY

ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. LEAVING ASIDE THE

QUESTION OF WHETHER SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD BE SUITED TO THE SPECIAL

CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO PURSUE THIS IDEA

AT PRESENT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. AS WAS EXPLAINED EARLIER (IN

PARAGRAPH 27), IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVE THE STABILITY AND HARMONY OF THE COMMUNITY. THE PROPOSALS, WHICH APE CONCERNED WITH THE METHOD OF SELECTION TO THE PRINCIPAL INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT,

THEMSELVES REPRESENT SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE AND MUST BE ABSORBED BEFORE

ANY CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT ITSELF ARE INTRODUCED.

SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENTS MAY BE CONSIDERED AT A LATER STAGE, BUT THE

PROPOSED NEW SYSTEM OF SELECTION MUST BE IMPLEMENTED AND ALLOWED TO

SETTLE DOWN FIRST.

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/CHAPTER 7