169
TO DESKBY 26093OZ FCO
SECRET
UK COMMS ONLY
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 351
OF 260645Z JANUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRET UK COMMS ONLY
HKB 012 14
.ECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 2FEB 1990
JESK IFFICER
NOEX
INFO DESKBY 26093OZ GIBRALTAR
SIC
на
Rm
$2
054500
MDHIAN 3992
TOP COPY a DIST?
REGISTRY
Guon Taken
(MODSH PLEASE PASS GOVERNOR GIBRALTAR (DESKBY 260930Z))
MIPT GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE: VOTING PROCEDURES
RE-DRAFT OF PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 2.
''IN PAPERS HANDED OVER TO THE CHINESE IN MAY AND OCTOBER 1986 THE BRITISH SIDE SUGGESTED THAT A GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE WAS ONE OF THREE POSSIBLE METHODS FOR SELECTING THE SAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE (CE) AND MIGHT ALSO BE USED AS A MEANS OF ''VALIDATING'' THE PRESENT APPOINTED AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO CIN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JD THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE CONSTITUTED BY ELECTION).
2. THE RATIONALE FOR SUCH SUGGESTIONS WAS:
(A) TO ENSURE THAT THE CE WAS SELECTED AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE MERITS OF DIFFERENT CANDIDATES, AND THAT HE ENJOYED THE CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT OF A BROAD SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY : AND
(B) TO ENSURE THAT THE FUTURE CE WOULD ENJOY REASONABLE SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THAT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS WOULD THEREFORE BE ENACTED EFFICIENTLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE COULD PRESENT A LIST OF SENIOR OFFICIALS TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FOR ELECTION AS VOTING MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
3. SUBSEQUENTLY WE BACKED AWAY FROM THIS IDEA, BELIEVING IT WOULD LEAD TO POLITICISATION OF OFFICIALS AND WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. HOWEVER,
THE CONCEPT OF A BROADLY BASED GEC, AS A MEANS OF ELECTING A PROPORTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, WAS FLOATED AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S GREEN
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Redacted under FOI exemption sections 27 (1)(a), (c), (d)
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