TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 230

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destabilising. The debate is now

focussing increasingly on the

timing of the introduction of direct elections and the proportion of

Legislative Council members to be selected by this method. There

seems to have been an acceptance, even among the more conversative

business and professional groupings, that the direct election of up

to 25% of the Legislative Council would be tolerable: and might

neutralise demands for even more radical change. However business

groups are in private becoming increasingly doubtful about the

wisdom of introducing them in 1988.

14.

Despite recent controversy surrounding the role of appointed

members there is still а wide measure of public support for

retention of an appointed element in the Legislative Council. The

system of indirect elections based on functional constituencies is

also generally supported, and there are calls for its further

expansion.

15.

There is less unanimity of view on the electoral college.

Members of the District Boards and two regional councils will

probably support its retention, because it provides them with direct

access to membership of the Legislative Council. However there is

concern that membership of the electoral college is too

narrowly-based. If the concept is to be retained there is a

widespread feeling that the system of election should be changed to

avoid the unpleasant factional rivalries within District Boards

which developed in 1985.

16.

The question of separation of powers of the executive and legislature and, in particular, the possible conflict between the

roles of the Governor as head of the executive and as president of

the Legislative Council are being actively debated in the media and

by academics and political commentators. It is doubtful whether the issues involved are widely understood within the community. If the

present position is to be changed, it will be necessary to consider carefully how to allocate the powers now exercised by the Governor

as president, which include powers exercised in the British

Parliament by the speaker, the Government of the day and the Houses

of Parliament themselves.

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