TNAG-1716-FCO40-2396-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 143

SECRET

133501 MDHIAN 3004

PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

(II)

LINKS BETWEEN THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE URBAN

COUNCIL WILL BE STRENGTHENED. IN MARCH 1989, EACH OF THE TEN URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS WILL ELECT A REPRESENTATIVE TO SIT ON THE

URBAN COUNCIL. URBAN COUNCILLORS WILL THEN CEASE TO BE EX-

OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS.

(III) THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THE ROLE AND COMPOSITION OF

THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.

(D) THE PRESIDENCY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

THE GOVERNOR WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

(E)

PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ELECTIONS

(I) THE SEQUENCE OF ELECTIONS WILL BE CHANGED SO THAT ELECTIONS

TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE HELD IN THAT ORDER.

(II) THE AGE OF ENTITLEMENT TO VOTE AND OF ELIGIBILITY FOR

OFFICE WILL REMAIN AT 21.

(III) A PREFERENTIAL ELIMINATION SYSTEM OF VOTING (AS

DESCRIBED IN THE GREEN PAPER) WILL BE ADOPTED IN THE 1988

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

(IV) THE LIMITS ON ELECTIONS EXPENSES WILL BE REVIEWED

REGULARLY.

3. THE ANNEXED PAPER ILLUSTRATES HOW THE QUESTION OF DIRECT

ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE PRESENTED, IN THE CONTEXT OF LONGER TERM DEVELOPMENTS.

4. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO TABLE THE WHITE PAPER IN

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 10 FEBRUARY 1988 AND TO PUBLISH IT THE

SAME DAY.

ENDS

YYYY

PAGE

SECRET

3