The Hong Kong Education System
Appendix B
The Constitutional and Central Administrative Background to Education
The
Hong Kong is administered by the Hong Kong Government
according to the conventions of British colonial administration.
Governor is the representative of the Queen as head of the
government he presides at meetings of the two main advisory bodies,
the Executive and Legislative Councils. The Executive Council consists
of five ex-officio members (the Chief Secretary, the Commander British
Forces, the Financial Secretary, the Attorney General and the Secretary
for Home Affairs), together with other members appointed by the Queen,
or the Governor, on the instructions of the Secretary of State. The
number of appointed members is now 10, making one official and nine
unofficial members in addition to the five ex-officio members. The
council usually meets once a week throughout the year. Its function is
to advise the Governor, who is required by the Royal Instructions to
consult it on all important matters of policy, subject to certain
exceptions such as in cases of extreme urgency. In accordance with
the Royal Instructions the Governor decides on matters to be put
before the council. Decisions on matters considered by the council
are taken by the Governor (but if he decides to act against the advice
of the majority of members he is required to report the reasons to the
The Governor in Council the Governor acting Secretary of State).
after receiving the advice of the council - is the statutory authority
for making regulations, rules and orders under a number of ordinances,
and also considers appeals, petitions and objections under ordinances
which confer such a statutory right of appeal.
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