TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 163

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acceptable to ourselves or

or to the people of Hong Kong.

17.

The powers delegated or devolved to the Chief Executive (Designate) could be resumed if the need arose, either because of

his inadequacy or

because of external factors (although we should

not underestimate the political difficulty of doing so). The aim

would however be

to devolve to him by 1997 all the powers to be

exercised by the Chief

Chief Executive after 1997, SO as to lessen the

likelihood that the Chinese might be tempted, even against the

provisions of the Joint Declaration, to retain such themselves after the change of sovereignty.

Consequential Issues

18.

powers

for

to

A number of consequential issues are examined in the Annex

this paper.

Ministers will wish to note the implications of what is

but these proposed:

do not require Ministerial

at decision

this

stage. Such decisions could only be taken once the general concept has been explained to the Chinese and they have been drawn discussion of their Own intentions for the period immediately after

1997.

into

19.

Our objectives in these areas might be the following:

in 1992. A (i) the post of Deputy Governor might be created second term of office would span the change of sovereignty in

1997 (Annex paras 1-2):

(ii) an individual acceptable

acceptable to ourselves and the Chinese, and if possible selected by the same process as would be used after 1997, would occupy the post of Deputy Governor, perhaps in 1995, and become Chief Executive on 1 July 1997 (Annex

para 3):

(iii)

powers

would be

progressively

devolved

to the

incumbents of the post, although ultimate authority would

remain with HMG in accordance with

Joint Declaration (Annex paras 4-6):

the provisions of

the

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