CONFIDENT-KAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIOR PTY FCO
TELNO 1310
OF 02064OZ MAY 86
UNFO PRIORITY PEKING
Confidential
TOP COPY
MIPT : AMENDMENTS TO LETTERS PATENT
DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE BEGINS:
HRK 124 3....
RECEIVED !!
- 6 MAY 1986
1. WOULD LIKE TO INFORM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS
OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN HONG KONG FROM THE PRESENT 10 MEMBERS
(EXCLUDING THE GOVERNOR), TO 12, WITH EFFECT FROM THE BEGINNING
OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION (OCTOBER THIS YEAR). THIS IS BEING
DONE FOR PURELY PRACTICAL REASONS.
2. THIS CHANGE WILL REQUIRE AMENDMENT OF THE BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL
DOCUMENTS (LETTERS PATENT). PROVASHON WILL BE MADE FOR AN INCREASE TO 14 OFFICIAL MEMBERS, AS A CONTINGENCY TO ALLOW ROOM FOR A FURTHER
INCREASE, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE..
ENDS.
BACKGROUND
3. N OCTOBER 1985 THE NUMBER OF OFFICAL MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL
(INCLUDING EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS) WAS REDUCED FROM 18 TO 10, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER
1984. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REDUCTION WAS TO ALLOW FOR AN INCREASE
IN THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, IN PARTICULAR INDIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS FROM THE NEWLY INTRODUCED FUNCTIONAL AND ELECTORAL
COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES, WITHOUT INCREASING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE
COUNCIL TOO MUCH IN ONE STEP.
4. SUBSEQUENT EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, HAS SHOWN THAT THE PRESENCE OF
A FEW MORE OFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD BE HELPFUL MEN THE CONDUCT OF
COUNCIL BUSINESS. BUSINESS RELATING TO SOME SUBJECTS REQUIRING
SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE HAS TO BE HANDLED AT PRESENT BY OFFICIALS WHO
ARE NOT DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM: AND THE PRESENCE OF A FEW
MORE OFFICIALS WOULD FACILITATE THE HANDLING OF QUESTIONS DURING
QUESTION TIME.
Confidential
15.
* Taken
A88915
10
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.