TNAG-1448-FCO40-1947-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1986 — Page 102

Introduction

The Governor and Chief Executive

Annex II

Under the terms of the Joint Declaration on the

question of Hong Kong, the British and Chinese Governments are

committed to ensuring a smooth transfer of Government in 1997. An important aspect of this exercise is to achieve the maximum feasible convergence between the functioning of the

Government structure which will be in place immediately before

1997 and of that which will be in place thereafter. The

transition from the present office of the Governor to that of

the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administration

Region (SAR) is particularly important.

The nature of the problem

2.

At present the administration of Hong Kong is the responsibility of the Governor of Hong Kong, appointed by the Queen. Ministers have adopted the planning assumption that a resident British Governor, appointed from London, should be retained up to 1997.

3.

From 1 July 1997, under the provisions of the Joint Declaration, a Chief Executive will be appointed for the Hong Kong SAR. He will be a local inhabitant, selected by election

or consultation.