И
CONFIDENTIAL
051502
MDHIA $259
LAW. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AS TARGETS. SOME GROUPS PUT FORWARD THE SUGGESTION THAT THE ELECTION COMMITTEE SHOULD BE COMPOSED OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, DISTRICT BOARDS AND POSSIBLY LEGCO. THEY CRITICISED THE CURRENT USE OF CORPORATE VOTING IN SOME FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
(C) THE LIBERALS WOULD LIKE THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS TO BE WHOLLY ELECTED. SOME GROUPS SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS UNNECESSARY TO HAVE A THREE-TIER SYSTEM AND THAT THE TWO COUNCILS AND 19 BOARDS SHOULD BE AMALGAMATED INTO A SMALL NUMBER OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES THAT COMBINED THE FUNCTIONS OF BOTH.
(D) THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THERE SHOULD BE GREATER SEPARATION BETWEEN EXCO AND LEGCO AND THAT OMELCO SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AND TURNED INTO A SECRETARIAT FOR LEGCO.
(E) THIS CONCEPT OF SEPARATION DID NOT CARRY THROUGH ENTIRELY INTO THE COMPOSITION OF EXCO. THERE WERE MIXED VIEWS ON THIS SUBJECT, WITH A GENERAL FEELING THAT EXCO SHOULD BE MORE REPRESENTATIVE, AT LEAST OF THE COMMUNITY IF NOT NECESSARILY OF LEGCO. UDHK MADE A STRONG PITCH FOR APPOINTING LIBERALS TO EXCO. BUT THEY ALSO RECOGNISED THAT AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH WAS TO EXCLUDE LEGCO MEMBERS ENTIRELY FROM EXCO.
5. CRC'S THINKING ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT WAS REMARKABLY UNFOCUSED. THEY SAID THAT WE SHOULD OPERATE WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE BASIC LAW AND DISCUSS ALL ISSUES WITH THE CHINESE. BUT SOMEWHAT SURPRISINGLY, GIVEN THEIR STRONG EXCO MEMBERSHIP, THEY HAD LITTLE TO OFFER ON HOW TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF MAKING AND EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO LEGCO.
5. I ASKED ALL THE GROUPS FOR THEIR VIEWS ON HOW I MIGHT MAKE MYSELF MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO LEGCO. THE IDEA OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS OF LEGCO WAS GENERALLY WELCOMED, ALTHOUGH IN A RATHER LUKEWARM WAY BY THE CRC. THE POTENTIAL CONSTITUTIONAL DIFFICULTY WAS GENERALLY RECOGNISED, BUT EQUALLY IT WAS FELT THAT THIS COULD BE OVERCOME IF NECESSARY. THE UDHK SUGGESTED MOVING IMMEDIATELY TO AN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF LEGCO, AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD EXPECT JOHN SWAINE TO BE EASILY ELECTED.
6. WE WILL GIVE COPIES OF THE NOTES OF THE VARIOUS MEETINGS TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE IN HONG KONG NEXT WEEK.
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