TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 318

THE CONCEPT OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'

THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

THE SAR LEGISLATURE

THE BASIC LAW

404

(11) STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE HOUSE

OF COMMONS ON 25.10.84.

AS THE CONCEPT OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' IS NEW AND AS YET UNTRIED, SOME SCEPTISM HAS BEEN EXPRESSED AS

TO WHETHER CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM CAN CO-EXIST WITHOUT CONFLICT: AND WHETHER THE VIEWS OF THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT (CPG) WOULD PREVAIL OVER THOSE OF THE SAR: AND IF SO, WHETHER THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEM TO BE ADOPTED BY

THE SAR WOULD REMAIN INTACT.

4.5

AS REGARDS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN THE HK SAR, IT WAS WIDELY FELT THAT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT

WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR AND DETAILED TO PROVIDE THE

REASSURANCE WHICH PEOPLE SOUGHT. THE VIEW WAS STONGLY

EXPRESSED THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE SELECTED BY

ELECTION RATHER THAN BY CONSULTATION, AND SHOULD BE

APPOINTED BY THE HONG KONG LEGISLATURE RATHER THAN BY THE

CPG.

4.6

OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS MADE WERE:-

THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF APPOINTING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, INCLUDING HIS TERM OF OFFICE, SHOULD

BE FULLY DEFINED:

THE CPG SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VETO SUCH

SUCH APPOINTMENT: IF THE CPG HAD THE FINAL SAY IN THE APPOINTMENT, BEIJING MIGHT EVENTUALLY CONTROL ALL APPOINTMENTS IN THE SAR, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE

ADMINISTRATION AND THE JUDICIARY:

THE TERM ''LOCAL INHABITANT'' SHOULD BE PRECISELY

DEFINED: THE STATUS OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND

SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AS LOCAL INHABITANTS

SHOULD BE DEFINED AS HONG KONG BORN OR BONA FIDE

LONG TIME RESIDENTS WITH AT LEAST 10 YEARS

CONTINUUOUS RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG:

ALL APPOINTMENTS SHOULD BE BASED ON ABILITY AND

EXPERIENCE, AND NOT ON POLITICAL AFFILIATION OR

NEPOTISM:

SECRET -28-

/IN