TNAG-2221-FCO40-3189-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislat-1991 — Page 113

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FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO

1882

OF 061025Z NOVEMBER 91

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

14

UKREP JLG TELNO 511: JLG AND LEGCO RELATIONSHIP

Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1)

1. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JLG AND THE NEWLY CONSTITUTED LEGCO IS PART OF THE LARGER PROBLEM OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGCO AND THE HKG. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE FIRST ISSUE MEMBERS HAVE TO ADDRESS IS THE CFA, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE DIFFERING LEGAL VIEWS ON THE CONSISTENCY OF THE ARRANGEMENTS AGREED IN THE JLG WITH PROVISIONS IN THE BASIC

LAW.

4. I FULLY TAKE MR GALSWORTHY'S POINT IN TUR THAT WE NEED TO FIND A METHOD OF INVOLVING LEGCO IN A CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION ON ISSUES WHICH WILL LATER INVOLVE THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION. I NOTE THAT ALLEN LEES' LETTER IS COUCHED IN TERMS OF A MODERATE REQUEST. ANY COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE DIFFICULT, BUT REFUSAL TO CONTEMPLATE THE POSSIBILITY OF BRIEFING BY A MEMBER OF THE JLG TEAM, PROBABLY MR GALSWORTHY, WOULD BE LIKELY TO ENCOURAGE THE MAJORITY OF DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS TO STAND ON THEIR ASSUMED CONSTITUTIONAL PEROGATIVES, AND IN PARTICULAR GIVE THE UDHK

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