TNAG-1354-FCO40-1795-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 86

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8.

us,

In the rather longer term, the application of

these principles should enable three other objectives to

be realised. That is to say, the application of these

principles should assist

first, to decide upon the

changes which should be made in the composition, method

of selection and powers of the Executive Council;

secondly, to define the position of the Governor in

relation to the Executive and Legislative Councils; and

thirdly, to determine how best to make the executive

organs of the Government mor e accountable to the

legislature.

9.

Hopefully, the application of these principles

is

a system of government

the next few years which

not only will ensure that

firmly established dur ing

preserves and enhances the essential features of our

present society, but also will facilitate the conversion

of Hong Kong from its present status as a British Dependent Territory to that of a Special Administrative

Region of China, operating with a high degree of

autonomy on the basis of the policies elaborated in

Annex I to the Joint Declaration, under the Basic Law

for the SAR (yet to be drafted).

(4) Development of the Legislative Council, 1950 to 1985

10.

These, therefore. are the objectives and

principles upon which the plans in the White Paper are

based. They have been arrived at taking into account

Hong Kong's particular geo-political circumstances.

As