TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 43

SECRET

5

from 18

Official Members has been significantly reduced from

to 10.

As a result, the Official Members remaining on

the Council have not only had to shoulder a larger

workload, due to the general increase in the volume of

Council business referred

referred to in paragraph 4 above, but,

in several cases, have had to assume responsibility in

Council for issues outside their own

areas of

V

if its heavy

responsibility. If the Legislative Council is to continue

to work efficiently and, in particular,

programme of legislation is

to

be dealt with

expeditiously, it is essential that all relevant areas of

the Administration's

represented in Council.

responsibilities are adequately

8.

in the

M: 997

In the longer term, the position of Officials 7?

Legislative Council must be determined in

accordance with the provision in Annex I to the Joint

legislature of the Hong Kong

Declaration "that the

Special Administrative Region shall be

elections".

ada di Sarme

constituted by

of

the withdrawal

But, in the meantime

Official Members would amount to a radical change to our

system of government and a major departure from the

present practice. It would weaken the link between the

Administration and the Legislative Council, which is an

important element in the official conduct of government

business. It would also weaken the relationship between

the Council and the key advisory bodies

government officials

which both

and members of the public are

SECRET