TNAG-1718-FCO40-2398-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 152

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4. (OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) WHY DOES WHITE PAPER NOT TACKLE LONGER TERM QUESTION OF OFFICIAL AND APPOINTED MEMBERS? (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS) THESE LONGER TERM ISSUES WILL NEED TO BE EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF PROVISIONS IN BASIC LAW. MEANWHILE, THERE IS A PRACTICAL NEED TO RETAIN PROPORTION OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS TO DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, ANSWER QUESTIONS ETC. IN ACCORDANCE WITH TERMS OF JD, APPOINTMENT SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO CEASE NO LATER THAN 1997. HOWEVER, RESPONSE TO GREEN PAPER SHOWED WIDE MEASURE OF SUPPORT FOR RETAINING APPOINTED MEMBERS IN LEGCO FOR TIME BEING.

5.

(OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) WHAT ABOUT FURTHER CHANGES TO LEGCO COMPOSITION IN 1991 E.G. TO NUMBER OF OFFICIAL AND APPOINTED MEMBERS OR TOTAL SIZE OF 56? (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS) POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER CHANGE TO COMPOSITION OF LEGCO WILL BE CONSIDERED NEARER THE TIME. MUST BE BORNE IN MIND THAT INTRODUCTION OF 10 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1991 WILL, IN ITSELF, BE A MAJOR STEP.

(OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) WHY SO MUCH FUSS FOR SO LITTLE CHANGE? EMPTY REVIEW? (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS) FAR FROM EMPTY. INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1991 WILL BE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT. DECISIONS ON TIMING HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN LIGHT OF VIEWS EXPRESSED ON GREEN PAPER AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS DESCRIBED IN WHITE PAPER.

(V) PRESIDENCY OF LEGCO

(A) LINE TO TAKE

VERY CLEAR PUBLIC WISH FOR GOVERNOR TO REMAIN PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE TIME BEING.

2.

(B) DEFENSIVE

(OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) WILL GOVERNOR'S POSITION AS PRESIDENT OF LEGCO BE REVIEWED AT LATER DATE? (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS) THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WHICH WILL NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN IN LIGHT OF PROVISIONS OF BASIC LAW TO BE PROMULGATED IN 1990.

(VI) DISTRICT BOARDS

(A) LINE TO TAKE

WHITE PAPER PROPOSES NO FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE TO ROLE AND COMPOSITION OF DISTRICT BOARDS. DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES VALUABLE PART OF SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: WIDELY SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC WHO WOULD CLEARLY LIKE TO SEE THEIR ADVISORY ROLE STRENGTHENED. WHITE PAPER THEREFORE CONCENTRATES ON WAYS OF MAKING THEIR PRESENT ROLE MORE EFFECTIVE.

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