TNAG-1442-FCO40-1926-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 86

LB2AER

SECRET

THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATURE:

FUTURE OF SEATS NOW HELD BY APPOINTED AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS

1.

The present Hong Kong legislature is composed of 56

are indirectly elected by functional

members:

12

constituencies: 12 by electoral colleges: 22 are appointed

and 10 are official members.

2. The Joint Declaration provides that the legislature of

the Hong Kong Special Administration Region shall be

constituted

by

Section

I

elections (Annex

I

third

paragraph).

3.

arise from

ΝΟ problems of convergence therefore

members of the legislature who are

are indirectly elected (by

whatever method) or any who may before

may before 1997 be directly elected. However paragraph 17 of paper II: the Question

a of Convergence, handed by Sir Geoffrey

frey Howe to Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian in May noted, If convergence is to be achieved smoothly between the existing Legislative Council

and the future legislature of the Hong Kong SAR, then some provision will need

will need to be made for the seats now occupied

by appointed and official members.

4.

all

Until September 1985, all members of the Hong Kong

legislature were appointed by Governor. They were selected

to represent important sectors of Hong Kong society. The

system of appointment was continued after that date to

provide for continuity in the legislature and to enable

Hong Kong to benefit from the services of people who either

do not have the time, because of other business

commitments, would not be willing to become involved in

seeking membership through an electoral process.

have been suggestions that appointed

continue indefinitely (see 1984 White

19).

members

There

should

Paper, paragraph

-1-

SECRET