TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 141

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Confidential

HACK Onl

GRS 350

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TELNO 2321

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

OF 170955Z JULY 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

Сс

CUSTR.

24 JUL 1986

| AGB 24/7.

(PLEASE PASS COPY TO SIR E. YOUDE ON ARRIVAL IN LONDON)

OUR TELNO 2184, 2289 AND YOUR TELNO 1427 : ACCOUNTABILITY

AS PROMISED IN PARA 8 OF FIRST TUR, WE HAVE PREPARED AT MIFT A

NOTE WHICH ATTEMPTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE PRESENT, AS DISTINCT FROM THE FORMAL, POSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNOR. THE

NOTE MS INTENDED TO COUNTER LU PING'S POINT MADE DURING THE BLDC

POLITICAL SYSTEM SPECIAL GROUP MEETHING EARLIER THIS MONTH »N

SHENZHEN THAT THE PRESENT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WAS ESSENTIALLY A

CONSULTATIVE BODY AND DID NOT FORM PART OF HONG KONG'S EXECUTIVE

AUTHORINTIES.

SUBJECT TO YOUR AGREEMENT, WE HOPE TO DEPLOY THIS NOTE WITH OUR

BLDC CONTACTS BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND OF SPECIAL GROUP MEETINGS

TO BE HELD IN XAMEN AT THE END OF AUGUST.

2. THE NOTE REFRAINS FROM DIHSCUSSING THE STRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE

SAR EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES (ON WHICH WE SHALL REVERT TO YOU PARA 4 OF OUR SECOND. TUR REFERS). HT FOCUSES ON THE PRESENT

ARRANGEMENTS AND STRESSES THAT THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL CONSTITUTES THE CENTRAL AND HIGHEST EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG, AND THAT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HIS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE ON MATTERS OF POLICY. THE INFERENCE TO BE DRAWN IS THAT THE SAR CHIEF

EXECUTIVE TOGETHER WITH HIS GROUP OF PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS, EVOLVING FROM THE GOVERNOR AND EXCO OF TODAY, WOULD CONSTITUTE THE CENTRAL SAR EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SAR LEGISLATURE. THE

''EXECUTIVE AUTHORINTHES'' REFERRED TO IN THE JOINT DECLARATION

INCLUDE THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

AKERS-JONES

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT (FE)

DEP/HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

SIR W HARD ING.

MR WILSON

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

Confidential

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