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164577
MDHIAN 0247
OF. TAM YIU-CHUNG AND ANDREW WONG SPOKE AGAINST THE ABOLITION OF THE RULE. TWO OTHER MEMBERS (INCLUDING Y F HUI, ALSO AN EXCO MEMBER) SUGGESTED THAT THE RULE SHOULD BE FLEXIBLY APPLIED.
4. PRO-CHINA MEMBERS WERE INSISTENT THAT THERE WAS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TERMS 'EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES' AND
'EXECUTIVE COUNCIL' IN THE BL, SAYING THAT THE FORMER REFERRED TO THE HKSAR GOVERNMENT BUT NOT/NOT TO EXCO. THEREFORE THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF EXCO BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGCO. PHILIP WONG SAID THAT THE BL HAD ALREADY PROVIDED FOR AN EXECUTIVE-LED POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE HKSAR UNDER ARTICLE 64. THERE WERE PROVISIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE BL PROVIDING FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF LEGCO BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE RESTRICTION ON PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILLS, PRIORITY FOR THE HANDLING OF GOVERNMENT BILLS, AND SPLIT VOTING IN LEGCO. ALL THESE INDICTED THAT THE LEGCO WOULD ONLY PLAY A MONITORING ROLE. TAM YIU-CHUNG MAINTAINED THAT ANY REVIEW ON EXCO/LEGCO RELATIONSHIP MUST BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE BL.
5. A NUMBER OF OTHER SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS WERE ALSO FLOATED DURING THE COURSE OF THE DEBATE. THESE INCLUDED:
(A) THE LEGCO SECRETARIAT SHOULD BECOME INDEPENDENT:
(B) EXCO SHOULD OPERATE ON THE BASIS OF A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM WITH DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS BECOMING MINISTERS:
(C) THE AGENDA OF EXCO MEETINGS SHOULD BE PUBLISHED: AND
(D) PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS MAY BE DISMISSED BY A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE BY THE LEGCO.
6. THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS RESPONDED ON BEHALF OF HKG ALONG THE AGREED LINE (OUR TELNO 1745 AND YRTELNO 1027).
WILSON
Grö39.
YYYY
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