CONFIDENTIAL
056327
MDHOAN 8090
AS
ESTABLISH CAN BE CARRIED FORWARD AND MAY BE FURTHER DEVELOPED AFTER 1997 THUS REMOVING A MAJOR UNCERTAINTY FOR THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN POINTLESS TO HAVE DEVISED A SYSTEM WHICH WOULD HAVE SIMPLY RESULTED IN A DEADEND IN 1997. OMELCO RECOGNISED IN THEIR STATEMENT OF 16 FEBRUARY, OUR TASK NOW IS TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1991, AND TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THAT A FASTER PACE OF DEMOCRATISATION IS DESIRABLE.
GREEN PAPER ON ELECTION LAW
13.
THE GOVERNMENT NOTED THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A GREEN PAPER TO CANVAS VIEWS ON AN ELECTORAL LAW FOR THE ELECTIONS IN 1991 (PARAGRAPH 3.12). DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1991 ELECTIONS WERE ANNOUNCED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN HONG KONG ON 21 MARCH. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE THESE PROPOSALS WHEN DRAFT LEGISLATION IS INTRODUCED.
14. THE GOVERNMENT HAVE NOTED THE COMMITTEE'S VIEW THAT THE NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD NOT BE INCREASED. BUT THE BASIC LAW PROVIDES FOR 50? OF THE SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE TO BE RETURNED BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES UP TO 2003. IT THEREFORE MAKES SENSE TO MOVE GRADUALLY TOWARDS THAT PROPORTION. MOREOVER FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES HAVE PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN HONG KONG. FOR THESE REASONS IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM 14 TO 21 IN
1991.
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
15. THE GOVERNMENT HAVE NOTED THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE FIRST CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE ELECTED BY A DEMOCRATICALLY CONSTITUTED ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD CHIEF EXECUTIVES SHOULD BE ELECTED BY UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE (PARAGRAPH 3.18). ARTICLE 45 OF THE BASIC LAW PROVIDES THAT THE ULTIMATE AIM IS TO SELECT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE THROUGH UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. WE WELCOME THIS. THE MACHINERY FOR THE SELECTION OF THE FIRST CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS ONE OF THE POINTS WE
SHALL BE DISCUSSING WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
HURD
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