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say that this "double appointments" approach would make a
nonsense of our attempts to strengthen our representative
institutions.
16.
This
Taking account of these arguments, I have
concluded that, at the present stage of our political
development, there should not be any overlapping
membership between the Executive and Legislative
Councils. I intend to separate the two bodies.
should allow both to play their proper roles. In future,
within this Council political parties and groups will be
freed to develop their programmes and platforms, without
the constraints that membership of the Executive Council
must impose. This council will be formed as an
institution to assume its primary constitutional role as
a counterweight to the Executive.
17.
I would like to record my gratitude to the joint
members who have just stepped down from the Executive
Council. I greatly admire the way in which so many of
them attempted to accept new and important party
political obligations while maintaining their commitment
to the confidentiality and collective responsibility
which are an essential part of an Executive Councillor's
responsibilities. Hong Kong is in their debt for the
sincerity and goodwill they showed in shouldering an
increasingly difficult political burden over the last
year.
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