TNAG-2221-FCO40-3189-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislat-1991 — Page 41

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FROM: KAM Saunders

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 29 November 1991

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MR ALISTAIR LANG'S PAPER ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

1. Mr Burns asked to see a copy of this paper (attached) and to know what we thought of it. Mr Lang was commissioned by OMELCO to produce it early this year in preparation for the new, post-September LegCo. His approach is somewhat academic, with rather a lot of space given to talking about other constitutional systems. But there are some good ideas in it, as well as some rather over-ambitious ones. He has certainly indentified some of the main problems.

2. Mr Lang was disappointed with his Reports reception in Hong Kong, particularly from Lady Dunn. One can see why she would not like it. The whole thrust of the paper's recommendations is that the role and resources of LegCo should be built up, in effect at the expense of OMELCO, although he does not suggest doing away with OMELCO altogether (af para 18). Other of the paper's more radical suggestions are in its recommendation F (eg at para 34), where Mr Lang argues for greatly increased resources to enable LegCo members to carry out their 'constituency' duties. He argues that this could be paid for by removing many of the "obsolete" consultative structures (eg, the District Offices; City and NT Administration HQ; OMELCO central clearing house for complaints at Swire House). also argues (Recommendation G) for increased resources in

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