IN CONFIDENCE
HONG KONG
BACKGROUND NOTE.
1.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS OF HONG KONG
In accordance with the powers vested in him by the Letters Patent
and Royal Instructions, the Governor administers the Colony assisted by
an Executive Council and a Legislative Council.
The Executive Council consists of 5 ex-Officio, 1 Official and
8 Nominated Unofficial Members. The Governor is required to consult
the Executive Council save where matters are unimportant or too
urgent. He may act contrary to the advice given by the Council but
any such cases must be reported to the Secretary of State.
The Legislative Council consists of 4 ex-Officio, 10 Official and
15 Unofficial Members (all nominated). The Governor, as President of
the Council, has an original and a casting vote.
The power to legislate rests with the Governor "by and with the
advice and consent of the Legislative Council". The Crown however
reserves the power of disallowance and the power to legislate by Order
in Council for the peace, order and good government of the Colony.
2.
NEW TERRITORIES LEASE
The historical position is that in 1841 by the Treaty of Nanking
Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in perpetuity, and in 1860 by the
Convention of Peking the Kowloon Peninsula was likewise ceded. The
remainder and by far the greatest land area of the present territory
of the Colony of Hong Kong was leased to Britain for 99 years by the
second Convention of Peking in 1898. This is the area known as the
The lease on the New Territories therefore expires
New Territories.
IN CONFIDENCE
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