TNAG-2450-FCO40-3567-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 144

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13.

-6-

Among the various proposals which have been

canvassed there only seem to me to be two which are

credible

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first, a coalition ExCo, or second, complete

separation of Exco and LegCo.

14.

The coalition approach was to some degree

attempted after the 1991 LegCo elections. It failed to

get fully off the ground because, maybe understandably,

confidentiality and collective responsibility were too

onerous a burden for some of the potential joint

members. And for those LegCo members who did join the

Executive Council, the responsibilities of having to

stand up for government policies at a time when they were

competing for community support to found a political

party proved onerous.

15.

Besides these practical political difficulties,

there is also an important constitutional objection to

the coalition approach. In my judgement, it would retard

the development of the Legislature. A coalition ExCo.

would result in the transfer of political debate from the

open forum of LegCo to the closed council of ExCo. This

would run counter to our plans for strengthening the

accountability of government. In addition, a coalition

ExCo implies the appointment of people who have already

been appointed to LegCo. It is no disrespect to those

who have already served on ExCo with such distinction to

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