TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 57

CHAPTER 7 THE GOVERNOR SEPET

57. AT PRESENT THE CONDIDATE FOR APPOINTMENT AS GOVERNOR IS SELECTED

BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND IS

APPOINTED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. THE GOVERNOR PERFORMS FOUR

MAIN FUNCTIONS -

(A) HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ULTIMATE DIRECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT

IN HONG KONG:

(B) HE APPOINTS THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE

COUNCILS:

(C) HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: AND

(D) HE PRESIDES OVER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

58. THE GOVERNOR WILL CONTINUE TO BE APPOINTED FORMALLY BY THE

QUEEN AND TO BE HER REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG UNTIL 1997. HE WILL

ALSO CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIRECTION OF GOVERNMENT

IN HONG KONG.

59. HOWEVER, IF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS OF THE

UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS ADOPTED THE GOVERNOR

WOULD NO LONGER RETAIN HIS POWER TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THAT COUNCIL.

SIMILARLY, IF THE MAJORITY OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE TO BE ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR'S POWER TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE EXECU-

TIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE LIMITED TO TWO MEMBERS.

60. AS REGARDS HIS POSITION AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT IS FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER HE SHOULD BE REPLACED, IN DUE COURSE, BY A PRESIDING OFFICER ELECTED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM AMONG THEIR OWN NUMBER. IF THIS IDEA

WERE TO BE PURSUED, IT IS ALSO FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER SUCH A

CHANGE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED PROGRESSIVELY IN TWO STAGES. FOR EXAMPLE,

THE FIRST PRESIDING OFFICER MIGHT BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR

AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL, BUT THEREAFTER THE PRESIDING OFFICER MIGHT BE ELECTED BY

THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EVERY THREE YEARS.

61. EVEN IF THE GOVERNOR WERE TO CEASE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT IS ENVISAGED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE TO

ATTEND UPON THE COUNCIL TO DELIVER AN ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE COUNCIL

IN HIS ROLE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT THE OPENING OF EACH NEW SESSION:

AND THAT PROVISION WOULD REMAIN IN THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE

COUNCIL FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS OR ATTEND THE COUNCIL ON ANY

OTHER OCCASION ON WHICH HE CONSIDERED IT TO BE APPROPRIATE OR

NECESSARY.

-4

162

SECRET