TNAG-2217-FCO40-3184-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 141

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG

TELNO 833

OF 01090OZ MAY 91

CONFIDENTIAL

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

FUTURE ROLE OF LEGCO

Constitution (future)

pa

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MDLOAN 0250

1. I AM SURE YOU WILL HAVE SEEN ALISTAIR LANG'S REPORT ON THE FUTURE ROLE OF LEGCO, IN WHICH HE MAKES A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS FOR THE RE-ORGANISATION OF LEGCO BUSINESS AFTER THE SEPTEMBER

ELECTIONS.

2. SOME OF HIS SUGGESTIONS, SUCH AS THE NEED TO ESTABLISH CLEAR

RULES OF PROCEDURE AND TO TIGHTEN UP THE ORGANISATION OF COMMITTEES, SEEMS TO US TO MAKE GOOD SENSE. OTHERS ARE MORE FAR-REACHING, SUCH AS ABOLISHING THE DISTRICT OFFICES AND OTHER CONSULTATIVE OR NON-ELECTED BODIES LIKE THE OMELCO CENTRAL CLEARING HOUSE FOR PUBLIC COMPLAINTS. HIS IDEA IS THAT LEGCO SHOULD, INCREASINGLY, FULFIL THESE VARIOUS ROLES. THE QUESTIONS THE PAPER RAISES ABOUT RESOURCES, DISTANCING THE LEGISLATURE MORE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE SEPARATION OF LEGCO AND EXCO COULD ALSO PROVE DIFFICULT IN PRACTICE.

3.

WE GATHER FROM ALISTAIR LANG THAT HE IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESPONSE IN HONG KONG TO HIS IDEAS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW YOUR VIEWS OF THEM, AND THOSE OF LYDIA DUNN AND ALLEN LEE. HOW IS IT PROPOSED TO TAKE MATTERS FORWARD AND IN WHAT TIMESCALE?

4. I EXPECT THAT MINISTERS WILL IN DUE COURSE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES RAISED IN THIS PAPER, AND WE ARE THEREFORE PLANNING ON SUBMITTING ADVICE TO LORD CAITHNESS BEFORE HIS NEXT VISIT TO HONG KONG.

HURD

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