TNAG-2217-FCO40-3184-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 67

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 1549

OF 17123OZ MAY 91

CONFIDENTIAL

p.9.

HAB 012/1

Constfalia (B

TOP COPY Q DIST

042024

MDLIAN 2109

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PERSONAL FOR PAUL. HKD FROM GOVERNOR

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YOUR TELNO 833: FUTURE OF LEGCO

I HAVE NOW SEEN A COPY OF LANG'S REPORT. IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY ALLEN LEE AS AN IN-HOUSE PROJECT. COPIES HAVE NOT/NOT YET BEEN SENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION. INDEED IT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN DISCUSSED WITHIN OMELCO BEYOND THE TWO SENIOR MEMBERS. THIS EXPLAINS WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL REACTION TO IT FROM OMELCO OR THE

ADMINISTRATION.

2. SOME OF LANG'S SUGGESTIONS, ARE ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED. A LEGCO AD HOC GROUP SET UP TO REVIEW LEGCO'S STANDING ORDERS COMPLETED ITS REPORT IN MARCH AND CONCLUDED INDEPENDENTLY THAT AMENDMENTS WERE NECESSARY TO TIGHTEN UP PROCEDURES AND TO INTRODUCE A MORE EFFECTIVE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE. DRAFTING OF NEW STANDING ORDERS IS WELL ADVANCED. THE AD HOC GROUP AIMS TO PASS THESE IN JUNE, BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE CURRENT LEGCO SESSION. WE PROPOSE TO BRIEF THE CHINESE ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE THE RESOLUTION IS LAID ON THE TABLE IN LEGCO.

3=

SOME OF LANG'S OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE BUILDING LEGCO INTO A SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT INSTITUTION, ABOLISHING THE CNTA'S NETWORK OF DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE SYSTEM OF CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES, ARE MORE CONTROVERSIAL:

(A)

(B)

THERE IS NO CONSENSUS AMONG NON-OFFICIALS ON THE ABOLITION OF OMELCO, TO WHICH SOME MEMBERS, INCLUDING LYDIA DUNN, ATTACH GREAT SIGNIFICANCE. THE LANG PROPOSALS ALSO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL STAFFING AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

THE PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH CNTA'S SYSTEM OF DISTRICT OFFICES AS A RESULT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGCO GOES WELL BEYOND LANG'S BRIEF. BUT WE ARE CURSELVES REVIEWING THE ROLE OF CNTA IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING ELSEWHERE IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.

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