TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 286

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REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS, AND BY SPECIFIED

FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. TO START WITH, THESE ARRANGEMENTS

SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN TWO STAGES IN 1985 AND 1988 - FOLLOWING

THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN THOSE YEARS. IN 1989, AFTER THE

1988 ELECTIONS TO THE COUNCIL HAVE TAKEN PLACE, THERE SHOULD BE A

REVIEW OF THE POSITION WITH A VIEW TO DECIDING WHAT FURTHER

DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD BE PURSUED.

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THE PAPER ALSO PROPOSES THAT 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 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.

IN THE VIEW OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT THESE PROPOSALS ARE WELL

DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE REPRESENTATIVE STATUS OF HONG KONG'S

CENTRAL 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.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL MR GOODALL

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COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFF: MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK

ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

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