TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 275

GRS 1700

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 25090OZ FCO

TELNO 2488

OF 250645Z JUNE 87

INFO IMMEDIATE PEK:1:NG

Secret

нив

16

H46 On! TOP COPY

Q DIST ?

25 JUN 107

MY SECOND IPT: STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT : LONGER-TERM ISSUES

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF NOTE 1.

BEGINS

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

METHOD OF SELECTION

SECTION OF ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION STATES: ''THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL BE SELECTION BY ELECTION OR THROUGH CONSULTATIONS HELD LOCALLY AND BE APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT''.

2.

PAPER 11 OF MAY 1986 REFERRED TO THREE POSSIBLE METHODS OF SELECTING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHICH HAD BEEN PUBLICLY DISCUSSED IN

HONG KONG. THERE WERE:

(A) BY CONTESTED DIRECT ELECTION AMONG ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ON THE BASIS OF UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE:

(B) BY ELECTION AMONG MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, IF NECESSARY AFTER CONSULTATION AMONG THEM, ON A SHORT LIST OF ELIGIBLE

CANDIDATES FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE:

(C) BY CONSULTATION, FOLLOWED IF NECESSARY BY ELECTION, IN SOME WIDER ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO PROVIDE A BROADER BASIS FOR THE ELECTION.

3. OPTION (A) WOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR THE POST OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO CAMPAIGN WIDELY FOR POPULAR SUPPORT AND WOULD THUS FAVOUR THE HIGH-PROFILE POLITICIAN RATHER THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, A LESS WELL-KNOWN BUT NEVERTHELESS ABLE ADMINISTRATOR. OPTION (B) WOULD PLACE CONSIDERABLE POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MIGHT UNDULY TIP THE BALANCE BETWEEN IT AND THE EXECUTIVE. OPTION (C) MIGHT THEREFORE BE PREFERABLE, BECAUSE IT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WAS SELECTED AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE MERITS OF DIFFERENT CANDIDATES AND THAT HE ENJOYED A BROAD MEASURE

OF SUPPORT.

METHOD OF ELECTION

Secret

14.