TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 243

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INTRODUCING THEM IN 1988.

14.

DESPITE RECENT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE ROLE OF

APPOINTED MEMBERS THERE IS STILL A 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

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,

GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY AND THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT THEMSELVES.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT PUBLIC INTEREST IN CHANGES TO

THE COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS ANY GREATER THAN IN

1984. IF ANYTHING, THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREATER RECOGNITION OF

THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A STRONG EXECUTIVE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING FIRM

LEADERSHIP AND EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION.

17.

THE PROBLEM OF COMPATIBILITY

THE

18.

THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND ITS

FIRST ANNEX CONTAIN A NUMBER OF GENERAL PROVISIONS ABOUT THE

STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT. THOSE MOST

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