TNAG-1439-FCO40-1923-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 33

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(B) BY ELECTION AMONG MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, IF NECESSARY AFTER CONSULTATION AMONG THEM, ON A SHORT LIST OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE.

(C) BY CONSULTATION, FOLLOWED F NECESSRY BY ELECTION, BY SOME OTHER ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO PROVIDE A WIDER BASIS OF THE ELECTION (REFERRED TO BELOW AS THE CONSULTATIVE COLLEGE). THERE IS A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE METHODS OF ACHIEVING SELECTION ON THIS BASIS. *INCLUDING A COLLEGE COMPOSED OF CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE, FORMER MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF BODIES NOW FORMING THE CONSULTATIVE COLLEGES FOR THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES IN THE EXISTING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER TERRITORY-WIDE BODIES COMPOSED OF LOCAL INHABITANTS AS DEFINED IN THE JOINT, DECLARATION, INCLUDING ALL ORGANISATIONS OF STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS THE CHAIRMEN OF TUNG WAH, PO LEUNG KUK, HEUNG YEE KUK, THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG SHIPPERS ASSOCIATIONS,

ETC.

8. A SINGLE CONTESTED ELECTION (OPTION (A) ABOVE) WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO FIND FAVOUR IN HONG KONG, AT ITS PRESENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: *T WOULD BE REGARDED AS A MAJOR AND FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AND AS TOO LIKELY TO LEAD TO HIGHLY CHARGED ADVERSARIAL POLITICS AND THUS

INSTABILITY.

9. AN ELECTION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE BY MAJORITY VOTE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (OPTION (B) ABOVE) WOULD BE AN EASILY UNDERSTOOD METHOD OF PRODUCING A CHIEF EXECUTIVE. IT WOULD CONFIRM THAT HE ENJOYED THE CONFIDENCE OF THE LEGISLATURE WHICH WOULD ASSIST THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT. IT WOULD REQUIRE NOBODY ADDITIONAL TO THOSE REFERRED TO IN THE JOINT DECLARATION TO BE ESTABLISHED, AND IS LIKELY TO BE FAVOURED BY MANY IN HONG KONG.

10. A WIDER CONSULTATIVE COLLEGE (OPTON (C) ABOVE) WOULD REQUIRED THE CREATION OF A NEW BODY FOR WHICH THERE IS NO PROVISION EN

THE JOINT DECLARATION. THERE IS NO EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE ON WHICH A JUDGMENT COULD BE MADE OF HOW IT WOULD OPERATE. NEVERTHELESS, HT

COULD FIND FAVOUR IN HONG KONG PROVIDING A CONSENSUS COULD BE ACHIEVED ON HOW IT SHOULD BE COMPOSED AND HOW IT SHOULD OPERATE, E.G. WHETHER IT WOULD MEET IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE: WHETHER CANDIDATES COULD BE PRESENTED ONLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE, AND IF SO HOW MANY: WHETHER THERE WOULD BE AN ELECTORAL PROCESS TO DECIDE BETWEEN CANDIDATES IF NO CONSENSUS COULD BE REACHED ON A SINGLE CANDIDATE, ETC. IT WOULD PROVIDE A WIDER BASIS OF SUPPORT FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND WOULD THUS GIVE HIM A GREATER DEGREE

OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

11. HAVING BEEN SELECTED BY ONE OF THE PROCESSES ABOVE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOHNT DELCARATION, BE APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT.

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THE EXECUTIVE

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