TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 9

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It is considered essential that the three ex-officio members should remain on the Legislative Council as a bridge between the Executive and Legislative Councils. It is also considered important for a reasonable number of officials to remain on the Council at this stage to assist in the conduct of the business of the Council, and it is proposed to reduce the number of Official members to ten in 1985 with the figure for 1988 subject to review in 1987.

The composition of the Legislative Council

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As

a

(a)

composition follows -

elected by the electoral college

result of the proposals described above of the Legislative Council in 1985 would

would be as

the

12

(b)

elected by the functional constituencies

12

(c)

appointed by the Governor

22

(d)

Official members (including the three ex-officio members)

10

Total

56

The review

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The Green Paper proposed that there should be a review in 1989, following the elections in 1988,

1988, with a view to deciding, in particular. the future position of appointed Unofficial members and other possible mixes of members elected by the electoral college and the function constituencies. Two possible options for the composition of the Legislative Council in 1991 were also suggested for public consideration. It was further stated that other types of electoral arrangements, including the possibility of direct elections, might be

considered in the review.

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Although there has been strong support for a review, the general opinion is clearly that it should take place earlier than 1989: 1986 and 1987 have been the most frequently suggested years. These views have been expressed mainly in connection with proposals that direct elections should be introduced on a gradual basis, starting in 1988. It has been argued by many that it is unnecessary and undesirable to wait until after the second round of indirect elections to the Legislative Council has taken place in 1988 to review the position, bearing in mind the fairly short time between then and 1997, and particularly as the people of Hong Kong will have gained further experience of direct elections to the District Boards, the Urban Council and the new Regional Council in 1985 and 1986.