120. This will mean that, in future, I will be answerable as the head of the Executive to this Council rather than being restricted to the role of President. To be answerable to this Council in practice, I propose, if you agree, to make myself available to answer Members' questions and to discuss government policies and proposals, on at least one Thursday every month that you are in session, though in practice I imagine you will be seeing a good deal more of me than that. I should also like to make myself available to this Council to report on my major trips abroad-like my trip to China—and on other important developments. We will obviously need to work out together exactly how these arrangements can best be made to work. With your agreement, I have made arrangements for the first of these sessions to take place
tomorrow.
LegCo's Administration
121. We need to go still further in ensuring that this Council has the independence you need to represent the community effectively. You must have clear and separate management of your own affairs. It would seem sensible to wind up the Office of Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (OMELCO), whose future I know you have been considering. We are ready to work actively with Members in developing financial and managerial autonomy in organising your own administration and support facilities. We will welcome your proposals.
122. You already have the powers you need to develop your own committee structure. I assume you will wish to establish a system that enables you to ensure that the Executive is fully accountable to the Legislature, as laid down in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, and that this procedure works effectively and openly.
A Government-LegCo Committee
123. We need to develop the relationship between this Council and the Government so as to ensure that public business-that is the Government's legislative and financial programmes-is conducted efficiently. I propose that a Government-LegCo Committee should be established where the Administration can discuss with members of this Council the handling of the Administration's legislative and financial programmes. This new non-statutory body will be chaired by me or by
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