TNAG-2445-FCO40-3560-Internal-political-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 35

CONFIDENTIAL

M

Mr cbx zl

BY FAX

Peter F Ricketts Esq Hong Kong Department FCO

Ms Saugell fo

pc.

72%

Other of the

British Senior Representative Sino-British Jomt Laison Group

20 January 1992

MA Soße PS/Card Githness Мавава.

fir J Coles Mr Burns

May self.

Dear Peter,

LEGCO COMMITTEES

1.

Another

A

very useful sequence of

Letters from

Mu Paul.

Legislative Councillors finally decided on 18 January what changes should be introduced to replace the present system of 2, OMELCO panels and ad hoc groups. The so-called Arculli model, favoured by the conservative CRC grouping, was endorsed by a narrow majority - 28 to 24 votes - over the alternative model proposed by Edward Chen and favoured by the liberals.

2. Under the Arculli model, the old ad hoc groups will be formalised into ad hoc Bills Committees, the function of which will be to scrutinise bills as they arise. Membership the Bills Committees will be open to all Legislative Counci' ors, who will thus be free to join as many, or as few, Bills Committees as they wish. The Arculli model entails no change to the existing system of OMELCO panels, the function of which is to monitor government policy. The OMELCO panel system, and the effectiveness of the Bills Committees, will be reviewed at the end of the current session in July.

3.

LegCo has thus opted for the retention of the present syste. with some modifications ie, minimal change. But the decision to review the whole system in July leaves open the possibility of further changes in due course, including the abolition of the OMELCO panels.

The

4. What alternatives have been on the table? The model which has attracted much attention (and which undoubtedly caused the Chinese the greatest anxiety) was the Leong Che-hung proposal. In essence, this advocated the establishment of permanent standing Committees within Legco, mirroring the relevant government branches, with the function of (a) scrutinising bills relevant to that particular area and (b) monitoring government policies. OMELCO panels would have been abolished: Leong Che-hung's argument was that most OMELCO panels are convened by Legco members who are also Exco members, or even by individuals who are exclusively ExCo members; so that the convenors are in effect

/ scrutinising

CONFIDENTIAL