18
CONFIDENTIAL
on an electoral law for the elections in 1991 (paragraph 3.12).
Details of the proposed arrangements for the 1991 LegCo elections
were announced in Hong Kong on 21 March. LegCo will have an
opportunity to debate these proposals when draft legislation is
introduced.
Have noted the Committee's view that the number of functional
constituencies should not be increased. But Basic Law provides for
50% of the seats in the legislature to be returned by functional
constituencies up to 2003. Need to move gradually towards that
proportion. Functional constituencies have also proved successful
in Hong Kong.
Chief Executive
Have noted Committee's recommendation that first Chief Executive
should be elected by a democratically constituted Electoral College
and that second and third Chief Executives should be elected by
universal suffrage (paragraph 3.18). Article 45 of the Basic Law
provides that the ultimate objective 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.
Relationship between Executive and Legislature
Have noted Committee's recommendation that Legislative Council
should be sovereign and that the Chief Executive should resign where there is an irreconcilable conflict (paragraph 3.22). Article 73(9)
provides for a system whereby the legislature can impeach the Chief
Executive if he or she refuses to resign when charged with serious breach of law or dereliction of duty.
BRITISH POLICY AND ACTIONS
British Interest in Hong Kong
The Guveman!
Share Committee's view that prosperity of Hong Kong is of enormous
CATAAU
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