TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 268

pursued.

SECRET

The paper

also proposes that the

the majority of the appointed

Unofficial members of the Executive Council should be replaced

progressively by members elected by the Unofficial members of

Legislative Council from among their number, but a small number of

members should continue to be appointed by the Governor and the four

ex-officio members should remain as members of the Council. These

arrangements should be introduced in two stages in 1988 and 1991

following the elections

the elections to the Legislative Council in those years.

Finally, the paper proposes that, in due course, the Governor should

be replaced in his capacity as president of the Legislative Council

by a presiding officer elected by the Unofficial Members of the

Legislative Council from among their own number. This paper does

not however make proposals relating to the other functions of the

Governor.

central

In the view of Her Majesty's Government these proposals are well

designed to enhance the representative status of Hong Kong's

government institutions and to give the Hong Kong people a stronger voice in the administration of the territory in years. to come. The

people of Hong Kong will now be putting forward their views, which

will be taken into account in a subsequent White Paper.