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Redacted under FOI Exemptions Sec 27(1)
AND THEIR GENERAL ANTIPATHY TO DIRECT ELECTIONS SUGGESTS BEGIN SQUARE BRACKETS THAT CONSULTATIONS'' WILL BE THEIR PREFERRED METHOD OF CHOOSING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. IT IS ALSO LIEKLY THAT
THEY WILL WISH HIM TO CHOOSE HIS OWN EXECUTIVE, THEY MAY BE READY FOR PROVISION TO BE MADE FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE TO SEEK A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM THE LEGISLATURE. END SQUARE BRACKTES. THERE WOULD THEN BE DIVERGENCE ONLY IF HMG WERE TO PRESS FOR A CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO BE CHOSEN BY CONTESTED ELECTION: AND IF AN ATTEMPT WERE MADE TO INTRODUCE A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE. BEGIN SQUARE BRACKETS CHINESE PRACTICE SUGGESTS THAT THEY WOULD FAVOUR THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EXECUTIVE. END SQUARE BRACKETS.
15.
- IDENTIFIED
**PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS'' WITH THE POLICY SECRETARIES IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. NORMALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS THEY WOULD BE APPOINTED FROM WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS PARALLES EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS. BEGIN SQUARE BRACKETS BUT THE CHINESE MAY SEE THE ROLE OF **PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS'' DIFFERENTLY REGARDING THEM AS QUASI POLITICAL FIGURES INSTEAD OF PUBLIC SERVANTS ADMINISTERING POLICIES
ESTABLISHED BY THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
END SQUARE BRACKETS.
16. LEAVING ASIDE THE QUESTIONS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE SAR AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT: THE METHOD OF CHOOSING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE SHOULD BE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO: (ON WHICH SEE PARAS
18 TO 22 BELOW) THE STRUCTURE AS MT NOW EXISTS (MODIFIED ONLY BY THE GOVERNOR CEASING TO BE PRESIDENT OF LEGCO) HAS SHOWN ITSELF
TO BE A WORKABLE AND EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. IT IS WILL
UNDERSTOOD IN HONG KONG AND TS CONTINUATION WOULD ASSIST IN
RETAINING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, INVESTORS FROM OVERSEAS, THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE POLICE AND OF THE COMMUNITY
GENERALLY. IT IS NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATHON.
BEGIN SQUARE BRACKETS THERE IS THEREFORE A STRONG CASE FOR SEEKING TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE THAT, WHILE WE RECOGNISE THE NEED TO
CHANGE THE FORMS, THEY WOULD BE WISE TO RETAIN THE ESSENTHAL
SUBSTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM AS 'IT NOW OPERATES. TO ENGAGE
IN THEORETICAL POLITICAL ENGINEERING WILL BE BOTH UNNECESSARY,
DESTABLISING AND HAZARDOUS TO EFFICIENT AND STABLE ADMINISTRATION.
END SQUARE BRACKETS.
17. THE CHINESE MAY SEEK TO ARGUE THAT THE UK HAS SUBSTANT PALLY
CHANGED THE SYSTEM OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. THIS IS TRUE IN THAT
WE HAVE INTRODUCED AN ELECTED ELEMENT IN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT THIS
STILL FALLS FAR SHORT OF A FULLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE PROVIDED FOR
IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. NOR HAS IT PREJUDICED THE QUESTION OF INDIRECT/DIRECT ELECTIONS. THE FINAL VERSION OF THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES ORDINANCE DID NO MORE THAN CODIFY THE INHERENT
POWERS OF ANY BRITISH STYLE LEGISLATURE.
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