TNAG-1844-FCO40-2619-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 50

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TRANSCRIPT C HONG KONG SELECT COMMITTKE MEETING

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22 MAR 89

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FORRIGS SECARTART (COFT);

I do not know that I can give you the full range of checks and balances in relation to the power of the Chief Executive. have looked already at the balance between the Legislature and

The Basic Law alsO Chief Executive in relation to legislation.

provides for the impeachment 01

the Cuief Executive iu

breach of law or dereliction of duty.

place.

I think that is the range of the balances presently in

CHAIRMAX:

Can 1 ask, is it the intention to abolish those powers available either to the Governor, to the authorities which are currently exercised but which could be uced in an oppressive

fashion?

FOREIGN SECRETARY:

Well a number of those mutters are

in course of being

changed now. For example, recently, I forget what stage they bave reached, but the censorship provisions in relation to films, ì think l am right in saying, also a statutory inhibition on freedom of publication has also been withdrawn as a result of intervention

by LBGCO.