TNAG-1440-FCO40-1924-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 51

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6. **N LEGCO THE NEW ELECTED MEMBERS ARE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR

RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES. SOME IDENTIFY THEMSELVES

LESS CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY THAN DID THEIR APPOINTED

COLLEGAUES. SOME SEEK TO USE THEIR STATUS TO FURTHER POLITICAL AMBITIONS. SOME ARE DISPOSED TO CREATE OR PROMOTE CONTROVERSY,

A ROLE IN WHICH THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE MEDIA. THE GREAT MAJORITY

BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY. BUT THEY TOO MUST NOW HAVE MORE REGARD TO THEIR

OWN STANDING IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC. THIS HAS COMPLICATED THE

ROLE OF EXCO MEMBERS WHO ALSO SERVE IN LEGCO.

7. THE LEGASLATIVE COUNCIL IS NOW HIGHLY VISIBLE ON THE HONG KONG

SCENE. IT STALL WORKS EFFICIENTLY. BUT THE BURDEN WHICH FALLS ON

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND ITS SENIOR OFFICIALS IN PRESENTING, EXPLAINING AND DEFENDING GOVERNMENT POLICIES HAS INCREASED

SUBSTANTIALLY. THE COUNCIL, LIKE THE PUBLIC, HIS MUCH LESS DISPOSED TO ACCEPT, WITHOUT FULL EXPLANATION, THAT THE HONG KONG OR BRITISH GOVERNMENTS KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR HONG KONG. CONFIDENTIAL

CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS A THING OF THE PAST.

THE COUNCIL'S ROLE AS CONTROLLER OF THE PUBLIC PURSE IS MORE PUBLICLY

EVIDENT: IT ALONE CAN VOTE FUNDS FOR GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE (A POWER

WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY INTO ACCOUNT IN THE

RE-NEGOTIATION OF THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT NEXT YEAR). THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS NO MAJORITY' IN THE COUNCIL AND CAN

ONLY LEGISLATE THROUGH A CONSTANT SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS ON MAJOR

SSUES.

8. INCREASED POLITICAL AWARENESS HAS BEEN GIVEN EXPRESSION THROUGH

A GREATER RANGE AND INTENSITY OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF EVEN THE

MOST SENSITIVE ISSUES: THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND THE BASIC LAW, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LONDON AND PEKING, CIVIL RIGHTS, THE PUBLIC FINANCES AND MANY OTHER SUBJECTS ARE OPENLY DEBATED THROUGH THE

PRESS, PUBLIC SEMINARS, AND LIVE DISCUSSION ON TELEVISION. DISTRICT

BOARD MEETINGS HAVE BECOME A SOUNDING BOARD FOR PUBLIC OPINION ON

MANY CURRENT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.

9. THE FORTHCOMING CHANGE TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, NOW JUST OVER ELEVEN YEARS AWAY, HAS ADDED A MAJOR NEW DIMENSION TO THE POLITICAL

SCENE. THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW CREATED

A DIRECT LINE OF CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN PEKING AND THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY. FOR SOME THE INFLUENCE OF

CHINA ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE IS ALRAEADY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT

OF HMG. FOR THE PR PART THE CHINESE ARE HAVING TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE OPEN EXPRESSION OF OPINION IN HONG KONG. ANY IMPRESSION THAT

HT WILL BE IGNORED LEADS TO OUTCRY AND PREDICTIONS OF LOSS OF

CONFIDENCE IN CHINESE INTENTIONS.

10. 1997 IS ALSO A PERVASIVE FACTOR IN PUBLIC ATTITUDES ON MANY OTHER ISSUES. THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IS, FOR AN ARTICULATE MINORITY, NOT ONLY NECESSARY ON ITS MERITS, BUT THE ONLY MEANS OF GIVING HONG KONG'S FUTURE POLITICAL LEADERS LEGITIMACY AND STRENGTH TO RESIST INTERFERENCE FROM PEKING AFTER

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1 1997