TNAG-1719-FCO40-2399-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 207

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20

but the public opinion

surveys

commissioned by the

there was some interest in

Survey Office showed that

the community in considering the idea further.

Official and Appointed Members

38.

It

line with

the

evolution

of

to reduce the

in would be

representative government gradually

proportion, (if not the number,

if not the number,) of Appointed Members,

H.

including appointed

Legislative Council. The appointment system will

Official Members, in

the

in

any

case

have to

cease

because of

the

by 1997,

stipulation in the Sino-British Joint Declaration that the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region will be constituted by elections.

Nevertheless

there is a strong argument against moving too quickly

in this direction. The introduction of 24 Elected

in 1985, out of total membership of

a

Members

56,

macked a significant change in the overall composition

of the

Council.

The effect of any further changes

would need to be carefully measured.

39.

The ten

Official Members

three ex-officio

-

and seven appointed are responsible for introducing

Government business into the Legislative Council,

explaining Government policy and answering other Members' questions on the administration of Hong Kong.

They will

fulfil be required to

continue to

these

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