GPS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK BY FCO 10153OZ
CONFIDENTAL
KKK 01114.
C
FM HONG KONG 101415Z JAN 85
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 26 OF 15 JANUARY
11 JA
+
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
A
(5
YOUR TELMO 13: COMPATABILITY OF MEMBERSHIP O AND REGIONAL COUNCILS WITH MEMBERSHIP OF THE CPPCC.
TRICT JEQARDS
3
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 DOARDS, REGIONAL 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 RECONSE 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
LIMITEO
ARD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS
PS/MA LUCE
MR WILSON
CONFIDENMAL
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