TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 136

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dissolved and fresh elections called. Under such circumstances it

would be desirable, in order to maintain the synchronization between

the terms of office of the various groups of elected members, for

the incoming members to be elected for the residue of the term of

office of the outgoing members. Depending on the duration of the

unexpired term of office this could of course result in certain

groups of members being required to seek re-election for a full

term of office within a relatively short time.

THE PRES IDENCY OF THE LEGISLATURE

17.

-

Paper II of May 1986 concluded that it might not be

appropriate for the Chief Executive the Head of the executive

authorities to preside over the Legislature. If it were concluded

that the Chief Executive should not be the President of the

Legislature, the options would seem to be for him to be replaced by

either:

(a)

(b)

18.

a member of the Legislature, or other person, nominated by

the Chief Executive and endorsed by members of the

Legislature;

a member of the Legislature elected by his peers.

Whichever option were adopted it would be important to ensure that the individual selected enjoyed the confidence and respect of

the majority of members of the Legislature. It might therefore be

desirable to provide that the President must be endorsed or elected

with the support of a minimum of two-thirds or three-quarters of

members of the Legislature.

19.

It would also be necessary to decide whether there should be

changes to the powers of the President of the Legislature: for

example, whether certain powers now exercised by the Governor, as

Governor, should be transferred to the President (paragraphs 17-19

of Note 1 refer).

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