TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 300

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20. THE INTENTION IS THAT, BY 1991, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE COMPOSED OF AT LEAST 8 MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, 2 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND 4 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: HOWEVER, THESE NUMBERS MIGHT BE MODIFIED IN THE LIGHT OF THE REVIEW IN 1989 OF THE COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF SELECTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM

21. 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 OF HONG KONG BY ASSUMING SOME SORT OF EXECUTIVE ROLE, SIMILAR TO THE MINISTERIAL FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. AS I STRESSED EARLIER, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVE THE STABILITY AND

THE HARMONY OF THE COMMUNITY AT THIS CRITICAL TIME IN OUR HISTORY. SYSTEM OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL GIVING ITS ADVICE COLLECTIVELY HAS WORKED WELL. THE PROPOSALS SET OUT IN THE GREEN PAPER, CONCERNING 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. IT IS NOT, THEREFORE, PROPOSED TO PURSUE THE IDEA OF A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM AT PRESENT: IT MAY BE CONSIDERED AT A LATER STAGE AFTER THE NEW SYSTEM OF SELECTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND GIVEN TIME TO SETTLE DOWN.

THE GOVERNOR

22. THE PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS WHICH I HAVE DESCRIBED WILL NATURALLY RAISE QUESTIONS IN YOUR PARTICULARLY MINDS ABOUT THE FUTURE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR,

HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TWO COUNCILS AND THE FUTURE METHOD OF HIS

SELECTION.

23. THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES IN THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR:

FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNOR'S POWER TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE

EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS WILL BE REDUCED:

THE GOVERNOR'S PRESIDENCY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS

A FUNCTION UNCONNECTED WITH HIS OTHER FUNCTIONS, AND IT IS PROPOSED THAT HE SHOULD IN DUE COURSE BE REPLACED AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY A PRESIDING OFFICER SELECTED OR ELECTED FROM AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. BUT NOTHING BEYOND THAT IS PROPOSED AT THIS STAGE. IN THE CASE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, CONVENTION HAS ALREADY MODIFIED THE GOVERNOR'S EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REFER MATTERS TO COUNCIL AND TO REJECT THE ADVICE OF COUNCIL: THIS RIGHT HAS NOT BEEN EXERCISED FOR MANY YEARS. FORMAL CHANGES IN THESE POWERS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED AT A FUTURE TIME. IT WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE TO BUILD ON THE ELECTIVE PRINCIPLE USED FOR THE SELECTION OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS, AND TO ARRANGE FOR THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF TO BE ELECTED BY THESE COUNCILS.

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