TNAG-1847-FCO40-2622-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 7

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but nevertheless needed to be chosen before 1997. His own view was that it would be better if the first Chief Executive could be chosen in a manner as similar as possible to that for subsequent CES and in as open a procedure as possible. also better if the election Committee could be

It was elected. Nevertheless it was strangely true these were not points of great passion to local people and many felt a different procedure for the first Chief Executive was acceptable. There was a widespread feeling that Hong Kong needed someone who could work well with Peking and also that we needed as little uncertainty as possible in the period 1995-97. It was not yet clear what sort of person the Chinese had in mind. He could either be But by 1997

a civil servant or non-civil servant. we would have a very experienced group in the senior ranks of the civil service who were used to dealing with Peking. We already had a wide range of contacts with Peking both through visits and the work of the JLG and its various expert sub-groups.

8.

Mr. Taylor asked if any areas of critical difficulty were envisaged in the executive/legislature relationship over the next few years, e.g. in the growing politicization of the existing system.

We would

The Governor said that there would be many issues of complexity in the next eight years. would know that the present Administration was

Everyone departing in 1997. We would therefore lose the leverage provided by patronage. growing politicization, formation of political

There would be groups, and jockeying for position. need to manage the new executive/legislature relationship without a real party system. was feeling its way forward, still largely supportive of the Government but critical on many issues, The game of opposing the Government in order to solicit public support would grow in popularity. We would soon need to begin a fascinating process of looking for support in LegCo among the various political groups that were beginning to coalesce.

LegCo

9.

Mr. Howell thanked the Governor again for his help and that of his officials. exercise had been a helpful one from HKG's viewpoint.

He hoped the The Governor said it had been a fascinating week, with people putting forward in public many of the thoughts which at other times lay below the surface and were not so clearly expressed.

cc: CS

SES

S(GD)

SCA

STI

s for S SASI AG

HXD,FCO

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