TNAG-2455-FCO40-3576-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-presentation-1992 — Page 36

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 021130Z FCO

TELNO 2437

OF 02105OZ OCTOBER 92

CONFIDENTIAL

MAB012/7

P.". Resentation

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101741

MDHIAN 1594

TOP COPY C DIST ?

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: CONSULTATION WITH EXCO

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ARTICLE X OF THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS STATES THAT IN EXECUTION OF THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES GRANTED TO THE GOVERNOR BY US SAID RECITED LETTERS PATENT, HE SHALL IN ALL CASES CONSULT WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL' WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CERTAIN SPECIFIC INSTANCES. IT MAY BE SUGGESTED IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY BY FORMER CRC MEMBERS OF EXCO, THAT I DID NOT CONSULT EXCO ON THE PROPOSALS IN MY ADDRESS TO LEGCO ON 7 OCTOBER.

2.

IT IS TRUE THAT, BECAUSE OF THE FORTHCOMING CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP OF EXCO, AND MY CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSALS WOULD BE LEAKED IF I BRIEFED EXCO ON THEM IN DETAIL, THE CONSULTATION HAS NOT BEEN EXTENSIVE AS WOULD NORMALLY BE THE CASE. HOWEVER, AS

YOU KNOW, ON 1 SEPTEMBER I SOUGHT EXCO MEMBERS' OPINION ON WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN MY PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. I HAVE TAKEN THEIR VIEWS INTO ACCOUNT IN PUTTING TOGETHER MY FINAL PROPOSALS.

3. MANY OF THE PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES ARE WITHIN EXISTING POLICY, FOR EXAMPLE THE PROVISION OF FUNDING FOR ALL KEY PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE. OTHERS, SUCH AS THE PROPOSALS ON SANDWICH CLASS HOUSING, WILL BE PUT IN DETAIL TO THE NEW EXCO IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING MY ADDRESS.

IF THIS CRITICISM IS MADE, WE WILL RESPOND ON THE LINES ABOVE. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU WOULD DO THE SAME.

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