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HAVE EMERGED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ENCOURAGED THIS PROCESS. THIS
IN TURN HAS LED TO AN INCREASING NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIONS FROM
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL
AS WELL AS THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AT THE CENTRAL LEVEL WILL BE OF GREAT
SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE FUTURE.
6. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GREEN PAPER IS TO SUGGEST HOW THE CENTRAL
INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG MIGHT BE MADE MORE
REPRESENTATIVE IN A WAY WHICH WILL MAKE THE GOVERNMENT MORE
DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG: AND TO INVITE
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF AND COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS SET OUT IN IT.
7. THE MAIN AIMS OF THE PROPOSALS ARE
(A) TO DEVELOP PROGRESSIVELY A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THE AUTHORITY
FOR WHICH IS FIRMLY ROOTED IN HONG KONG, WHICH IS ABLE TO REPRESENT
AUTHORITATIVELY THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AND WHICH
IS MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG:
(B) TO BUILD THIS SYSTEM ON OUR EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, WHICH HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL, AND, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, TO PRESERVE THEIR BEST FEATURES, INCLUDING THE MAINTENANE OF THE WELL ESTABLISHED
PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSENSUS: AND
(C) TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IF THAT SHOULD BE THE WISH
OF THE COMMUNITY.
CHAPTER 2 THE PRESENT SYSTEM
3. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG BASED ON THREE MAIN INSTITUTIONS: THE
GOVERNOR, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
9. THE GOVERNOR IS APPOINTED BY THE QUEEN AND IS HER REPRESENTATIVE
IN HONG KONG. HE HAS ULTIMATE DIRECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF
HONG KONG. HE PRESIDES AT MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND
HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
10. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CONSISTS OF FOUR EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, THE FINANCIAL
SECRETARY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOGETHER WITH OTHER MEMBERS
WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR ON THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS. AT PRESENT
THERE ARE TWELVE APPOINTED MEMBERS TEN UNOFFICIAL AND TWO
OFFICIAL. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON ALL
IMPORTANT MATTERS OF POLICY. THUS THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS ALL
MAJOR POLICY MATTERS, AND ALL PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION BEFORE IT IS
INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL ITSELF MAKES
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION UNDER A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES. IT ALSO
CONSIDERS APPEALS, PETITIONS AND OBJECTIONS UNDER CERTAIN
ORDINANCES.
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