TNAG-1716-FCO40-2396-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 213

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MDHIAN 218

RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE REMAINING 12 MEMBERS OF THE

REGIONAL COUNCIL ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

16. UNTIL 1985 THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF APPOINTED MEMBERS, INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. IN THAT YEAR THE NUMBERS OF OFFICIAL AND APPOINTED MEMBERS WERE REDUCED TO TEN AND 22 RESPECTIVELY AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, 24 ELECTED MEMBERS WERE INTRODUCED. TWELVE OF THESE MEMBERS ARE ELECTED FROM QUOTE FUNCTIONAL UNQUOTE CONSTITUENCIES BASED ON MAJOR PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS. THE OTHER

TWELVE ARE ELECTED BY AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE COMPRISING ALL MEMBERS

OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS.

17. THE THREE-TIER STRUCTURE HAS PROVED ITSELF TO BE WELL SUITED

TO HONG KONGS REQUIREMENTS. THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER WAS STRONGLY IN FAVOUR OF RETAINING IT. THE GOVERNMENT THEREFORE INTENDS TO PLAN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT ON THE BASIS OF THIS STRUCTURE, AND WITH THE FOLLOWING

POINTS IN MIND:

(A) THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH OF THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT

SHOULD BE CLEAR, AND THEIR ROLES SHOULD NOT OVERLAP.

(8) THE THREE TIERS SHOULD COOPERATE EFFECTIVELY, AND SHOULD BE

1. INKED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE VIEWS AND CONCERNS OF EACH MAY BE CHANNELLED, WHEN NECESSARY, TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.

(C) THE METHODS OF CHOOSING THE MEMBERSHIP OF EACH TIER OF

GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SUCH THAT THE BOARD OR COUNCIL WILL BE IN

CLOSE TOUCH BOTH WITH THE VIEWS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND OF THOSE

SECTORS WHOSE CONCERNS ARE PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO ITS WORK.

WILSON

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

25

ΜΑΙΝ

24

HONG KONG AGREEMENT RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HKD

DEP HD/PUSD

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/MR EGGAR

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