TNAG-2221-FCO40-3189-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislat-1991 — Page 54

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this outs

p.r. Rore of Legle

021751

MDHIAN 3323

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 25123OZ FCO

TELNO 3699

RECL

2

1991

OF 251130Z NOVEMBER 91

AND TO DESKBY 26013OZ PEKING

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INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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Taken

EXCO-LEGCO RELATIONSHIP: CHINESE PRESS ARTICLES.

1. ON THE EVE OF LORD CAITHNESS' VISIT TO CHINA, HE MAY WISH TO BE AWARE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A BARRAGE OF CRITICISM IN THE LOCAL

PRO-CHINA PRESS DURING THE PAST WEEK AGAINST QUOTE THE HONG KONG BRITISH GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE IN INSTIGATING LEGCO TO USURP THE POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE AND TO TURN EXCO FROM AN ADVISORY ORGAN INTO A BODY WITH REAL EXECUTIVE POWER.

2. AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE DISCUSSION ON LEGCO STANDING COMMITTEES, THE PRO-CHINA PRESS ARGUE THAT WE ARE PLOTTING WITH PRO-BRITISH (AND ANTI-CHINA) LEGCO MEMBERS TO TURN HKG FROM AN EXECUTIVE-LED TO A LEGISLATIVE-LED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, WITH LEGCO STANDING COMMITTEES SUPERVISING AND LEADING THE ADMINISTRATION IN FORMULATING POLICIES. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SUCH A COMMITTEE SYSTEM WOULD USHER IN AN AMERICAN STYLE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE SYSTEM IN H.K., THUS USURPING THE POLICY- MAKING INITIATIVE AND AUTHORITY OF THE EXECUTIVE.

3. THE CHINESE PERCEIVE A 3-STAGE BRITISH CONSPIRACY:

(A) FIRSTLY, THE PROMOTION OF A SO-CALLED CO-OPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN EXCO AND LEGCO WOULD UNDERMINE THE EXECUTIVE-

LED SYSTEM:

(B)

SECONDLY, GIVING LEGCO STANDING COMMITTEES THE POWER TO SCRUTINISE POLICIES IN ADDITION TO BILLS WOULD PLACE LEGCO ABOVE

EXCO: AND

(C) THIRDLY, BY PROMOTING PARTY POLITICS IN LEGCO, THE LATTER WILL ASSUME SUPREME AUTHORITY, THUS PLACING HKSARG IN AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA.

4. THE CHINESE CONSPIRACY THEORY REACHED ITS EXTREME IN A WEN WEI PAO ARTICLE ON 23 NOVEMBER, WHICH ACCUSED THE HKG OF SECRETLY

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