TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 149

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DECLARATION, A CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL BE APPOINTED FOR THE HONG KONG SAR. HE WILL BE A LOCAL INHABITANT, SELECTED BY ELECTION OR

CONSULTATION.

4.

THE PRESENT POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE FUTURE POWERS

OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL NOT BE IDENTICAL. AT PRESENT,

ALTHOUGH IN PRACTICE HONG KONG ALREADY EXERCISES A HIGH DEGREE OF

AUTONOMY, THE GOVERNOR IS CONSTITUTIONALLY SUBJECT TO THE

DIRECTIONS OF HMG. UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION THE HONG KONG SAR

WILL ALSO ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY (EXCEPT IN FOREIGN AND

DEFENCE AFFAIRS). HOWEVER THE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAVE YET TO BE DEFINED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

IN THE BASIC LAW OF THE HONG KONG SAR. THE CHINESE SEEM TO

ENVISAGE THAT HE WILL NOT EXERCISE ALL THE POWERS OVER THE

INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION WHICH, ON PAPER IF NOT IN PRACTICE, THE

GOVERNOR AT PRESENT ENJOYS.

CHINESE INTENTIONS

5.

CHINESE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW FOR THE HONG KONG SAR

IS ALREADY UNDER WAY, AND A FIRST DRAFT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN

1988. AT PRESENT THE CHINESE APPEAR TO ENVISAGE THAT THE FIRST

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD BE CHOSEN BEFORE 1997

BUT WOULD ASSUME A ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION ONLY ON 1 JULY

1997.

6.

IT IS ONLY REALISTIC TO RECOGNISE THAT AS 1997 APPROACHES

THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE IN

INCREASINGLY CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE CHINESE. THEY WILL

INCREASINGLY LOOK TO THE CHINESE FOR APPROVAL, IF NOT

INSTRUCTIONS, IN THEIR APPROACH TO PUBLIC BUSINESS. THE

EXISTENCE BEFORE 1 JULY 1997 OF A CHIEF EXECUTIVE DESIGNATED BY

CHINA BUT NOT FORMALLY INTEGRATED INTO THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

WOULD CONSTITUTE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ALTERNATIVE FOCUS OF

POLITICAL POWER. THIS COULD CAUSE POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND

? ACCENTUATE AN EROSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY WHICH IS IN ANY

EVENT LIKELY TO PROVE INEVITABLE. IF INSTITUTIONS AND THE

COMMUNITY COULD DIRECT THEMSELVES TO AN APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE

LOCUS OF AUTHORITY WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE SUCH

DESTABILISING AND DIVISIVE EFFECTS COULD BE LESSENED.

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