TNAG-1440-FCO40-1924-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 26

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14.

The first alternative is likely to provide the simpler solution which would require the least change. It would give the Executive increased authority if, once it had been selected by the Chief Executive, he sought a vote of confidence, collectively, from the Legislature. If the Executive did not enjoy the confidence of the Legislature it would have difficulty in securing the passage of laws and in raising revenue (see paragraphs 23 and 25 below).

The Legislature

The

at

15. The Joint Declaration provides that "the Legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be constituted by elections".

methods of election, least in general terms, would need to be specified in the Basic Law. Depending on developments (see paragraph 16 below) it might be specified that elections should include both direct and indirect elections.

16. Indirect elections are already used in Hong Kong in

membership

the of

of the

selecting

part

Legislative

Council. Direct elections are used at the District and

Urban Council/Regional

council level. Whether

for

a proportion

members of

or not to

introduce them

at the

Legislative Council level will be decided in the light of

the 1987 Review.

17. Some arrangements will ultimately have to be made for

the

official and seats now occupied by ex-officio,

the appointed members in the light of the requirement in Joint Declaration that the Legislature be constituted by elections. (See paragraph 15 above)

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