TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 43

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Chapter III The Executive Council

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It

was proposed in the Green Paper that the majority 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.

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There was much less comment on the Executive Council proposals than on those about the Legislative Council. An alternative proposal was

proposal was made that any future Chief Executive should be free to choose his own Executive Council.

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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

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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

policies and the operations of

of the Government through some form of ministerial system in future.

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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 addressed further at a later stage.

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