TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 123

FURTHER CONSIDERATION WIL BE GIVEN TO THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN THE REVIEW TO BE CARRIED OUT IN 1987 SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN OR LATER SQUARE BRACKETS ENDT

CHAPTER 111 KTHE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

21 22. IT WAS PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT THE MANORITY OF

APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE REPLACED PROGRESSIVELY BY MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BUT THE NUMBER OF EX-OFFICIO

MEMBERS SHOULD REMAIN AT FOUR.

30 33. THERE WAS MUCH LESS COMMENT ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PROPOSALS

THAN ON THOSE ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL WAS MADE THAT ANY FUTURE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE FREE TO CHOOSE HIS OWN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

31 34. IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL IN 1985. THE ISSUE WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR FURTHER PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION IN THE NEXT REVIEW.

A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM

32 35.

IN RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS WERE MADE THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO CONTROL AND SUPERVISE THE POLICIES AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH SOME FORM OF MINISTERIAL SYSTEM IN FUTURE.

33 36. THIS ISSUE, LIKE THAT CONCERNING THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR,

RAISES IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS. IT IS NOT A MATTER THAT NEED BE DECIDED IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE NOR IS IT THE ONLY WAY OF PROCEEDING. THE WHOLE SUBJECT WILL BE ADDRESSED FURTHER

AT A LATER STAGE.

CHAPTER IV THE GOVERNOR

34 37. ONLY ONE PROPOSAL WAS MADE IN THE GREEN PAPER WITH REGARD

TO THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR, NAMELY, THAT IN DUE COURSE HE SHOULD BE REPLACED AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY A PRESIDING OFFICER ELECTED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM AMONG THEIR OWN NUMBER.

35 38. ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSAL TO REPLACE THE GOVERNOR AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY AN ELECTED PRESIDING OFFICER WAS, ON THE WHOLE, REASONABLY WELL RECEIVED, IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE GENERAL VIEW IS IN FAVOUR OF MAKING NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS. PUBLIC OPINION SEEMS TO FAVOUR CAUTION AS FAR AS THE IMMEDIATE

FUTURE IS CONCERNED.

36 29. IT IS, THEREFORE, PROPOSED TO RE-CONSIDER THE GOVERNOR'S

POSITION AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE

NEXT REVIEW IN 1987

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'CONFIDENTIAL

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