TNAG-1358-FCO40-1799-Hong-Kong-compatibility-of-membership-of-district-boards-and-1985 — Page 10

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY FCO 101530Z

FM HONG KONG 101415Z JAN 25

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 36 OF 15 JANUARY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

Ми, Абале

M. Gabarthy

Telsut

PA Thorle

Draft reply below. On Acho 13 is A in attached the ple

Talpany

надет

YOUR TELNO 13: COMPATABILITY OF MEMBERSHIP OF DISTRICT BOARDS 10/1

AND REGIONAL COUNCILS WITH MEMBERSHIP OF THE CPPCC.

1. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THIS QUESTION ON THE BASIS OF

THE PAPER IN MY TELNO 20. MEMBERS ENDORSED THE VIEW THAT MEMBERSHIP

OF THE CPPCC IS NOT (NOT) INCOMPATIBLE WITH MEMBERSHIP OF DISTRICT

BOARDS, RECIONAL COUNCILS OR THE LEIGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SINCE THE

MATTER WAS RAISED IN YESTERDAY'S DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INCLUDED THE

FOLLOWING PASSAGE IN HIS SPEECH REPLYING TO THE DEBATE THIS

AFTERNOON (THE CHIEF SECRETARY ALSO SPOKE):

''DR HO ALSO MENTIONED HIS VIEW THAT MEMBERS OF THE CPPCC SHOULD

NOT BE BARRED FROM BEING MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS OR THIS COUNCIL.

IN FACT A MEMBER OF THE CPPCC HAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED A CANDIDATURE

FOR THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT

HIS NOMINATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE RETURNING OFFICER AND THE

GOVERNMENT SEES NO BAR TO THAT CANDIDATURE.'

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2. EXCO ALSO DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF NPC MEMBERSHIP. THE

CONSENSUS WAS THAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT, IN RESONSE TO QUESTIONS,

TO EXPLAIN THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE UNDER PRESENT LEGISLATION

FOR A NPM MEMBER TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

AND TO ADD THAT ANY CHANGE WOULD RAISE ISSUES OF POLICY WHICH

WOULD REQUIRE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

3. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ALREADY RECEIVED A NUMBER OF PRESS

QUESTIONS ABOUT NPC MEMBERSHIP. WE SHALL NEED TO RESPOND TO THESE

FAIRLY SOON. GRATEFUL TO KNOW EHETHER YOU WOULD SEE ANY OBJECTION

TO A REPLY BEING GIVEN ON THE LINES IN PARA 2 ABOVE. WE WOULD DECLINE

TO BE DRAWN FURTHER.

YOUDE

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