TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

MANY RADICALS (SUCH AS SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS) TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IF THE CONCEPT IS TO BE RETAINED THERE IS WISESPREAD FEELING THAT THE SYSTEM OF ELECTION SHOULD BE CHANGED TO AVOID THE UNPLEASANT FACTIONAL RIVALRIES WITHIN DISTRICT BOARDS WHICH DEVELOPED IN 1985.

4.

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 UK SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY AND THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT THEMSELVES.

5. 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 EXECTUVE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING FIRM LEADERSHIP AND EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION.

ENDS

YOUDE

YYYY

HMLNAN 3421

LIMITED

HKD

MR WILSON

[

-2- CONFIDENTIAL

!