TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 13

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S+mctural Changes Shall Follow the Provisions of the Book It is Dubious Whether of Not the Chinese Side Will Agree to It

To take a more conservative stance, it has been stated in the

Joint Declaration that the systems in Hong Kong will remain unchanged for

50 years and that the systems as set out in the Annex I are those which have

all along been practised by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. The only

change after 1997 will be that the Governor and the policy-making Secretaries

will no longer be appointed by Her Majesty, the Queen, but decided by the

Central Government of China. Any attempts to change the structure of power

derived from this system is a departure from the provisions of the book and

can hardly be accepted. In order to convince China to accept the fact that

the unofficials are, in one way or another, held responsible for the specific

scope of business in the LegCo, not only has the Hong Kong Government to

impress the Chinese Government that the unofficials have in practice played a

genuine role of making policy and are not confined to 'advising the Governor'

or simply chimed in with the policies put forth by government officials, but

also pledge that the unofficial members will continue to be given the chance

to work for the betterment of Hong Kong's prosperity.

That is to say, the

Central Government's power will not be pared away extravagantly. To win

China's confidence, those elected members who are subsequently appointed

ExCo members should have similar background, mentality and viewpoint as the

traditional 'elitist' members.

Appointed Ministers are by No Means Ministerial System. It is Envisaged That

the Pressure Groups Will Not Suppørt It

That being the case, it is believed that this package will not gain

the support of the pressure groups which have all along been advocating

democratic reforms because this 'ministerial system' does not live up to their

ideas. People who advocate 'resisting communism through democracy' will even

bluntly sneer at it.

> The

ministers, who are to be appointed by

the Hong Kong Government on the one hand and get the tacit agreement of China

on the other, will inevitably have to seek compromise from both sides. The

chances of having them taking Hong Kong people's stance and striving for Hong

Kong people's interests will thus be very slim.