TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 54

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it's got nothing to do with direct election! it so happens that

No decision has been made on whether the legislature should

be formed mainly through direct election but both sides agreed that

election by functional constituencies can help to stabilize the

political situation. The bone of constention on direct election

is whether the executive or legislature should have greater power.

advocating a smaller proportion of directly elected members were

•pinions fall roughly into inclined to see the executive with greater administrative efficiency

two corresponding halves

on

each issue.

but those advocating direct election hoped to give the legislature

greater power. Such arguments are normal and no hasty conclusion

New exploration should be launched after soliciting

should be made.

views on these questions.

I sometimes think the perfect model

for ever

without

wer

Those

Chinese problem solving would be to "consider" and "solicit views" actually taking a decision !!

To consider problems from the interests of the whole

The following factors are to be taken into account in considering whether the legislature shall be made the centre of power: (1) The Sino-British Joint Declaration provides that the

chief executive shall be selected by election or through consultations held locally and be appointed by the Central Government. The appointment is a substantial one, not a matter

of formality. If the Central Government's power of making appointment is to become nominal, thus relegating the chief executive to be the vassal of the legislature, it will easily give rise to confrontations between the regional government and the Central Government. The confrontations will serve as a negative factor to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. Provisions in the Joint Declaration should be strictly complied with. If only those parts

which are to the liking of the local people are carried out and the rest is not, the local people will be trapped into a passive position and can hardly require Peking to strictly abide by the Joint Declaration. The "shell "that can best protect the local people's interests is the

Joint Declaration. The provision

The provision that the SAR is directly under

If this

the control of the Central Government must be observed. is observed, all interests vested with Hong Kong can be maintained. Any attempt to change the Central Government's power to appoint the chief executive by way of election to the legislature is unrealistic. If the Central Government declines to appoint the chief executive returned by the legislature, a political crisis will immediately emerge, resulting in social unrest. This will only please the internal and extennal forces who would like to use disturbances