L
III.
4.
Constitutional Change
We sought to get across the means of building on the
existing structure, concentrating on how the membership of
the component parts should be generated rather than unnecessary
tinkering with the component parts. LU readily assented.
5. There was discussion over dinner on accountability etc.
LU was told that it was not a question of subordinating one
body to another. He indicated that he understood the concept
of checks and balances. We said he should also observe the
role of convention. Things were not always what they seemed
in the book. The central point we sought to get across was
that, however much power the executive enjoyed, it would not
in practice have the authority to govern unless it also enjoyed
the confidence of the legislature. There were a number of
ways in which this might be achieved: there was discussion
of the pluses and minuses of other systems, particularly US
and UK. We pointed out that one strength of the Exco and Legco
system was some overlap of membership at official level but
more significantly at the level of senior unofficial.
Meanwhile,
we had a problem of the handling of questions in Lego. But the
system was in a phase of settling down.
IV.
6.
Press/Public Relations
LU commented on the press- pressure on him in political terms.
He said that he would not be giving a press conference, in
spite of a number of requests to him to do so. He noted with
genuine appreciation the effort made by Mr. Renton to avoid
being trapped by journalists into making confrontational remarks.
2
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