ALL PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION BEFORE IT IS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGIS-
LATIVE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL ITSELF MAKES SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION UNDER A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES. IT ALSO CONSIDERS APPEALS, PETITIONS AND OBJECTIONS UNDER CERTAIN ORDINANCES.
11. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMPRISES THE GOVERNOR (AS THE PRESIDENT)
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THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS - THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE FINANCIAL
SECRETARY, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - AND, AT PRESENT, 29 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND 15 OFFICIAL MEMBERS, WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMON- WEALTH AFFAIRS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S PRIMARY FUNCTION IS THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION, INCLUDING LEGISLATION FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS. IT ALSO QUESTIONS THE ADMINISTRATION ON MATTERS
OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND DEBATES QUESTIONS OF POLICY. IN ADDITION, IT
EXERCISES CONTROL OVER THE EXPENDITURE OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS THROUGH
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHICH CONSISTS OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, AS CHAIRMAN, THE FINANCIAL, ONE OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL (BY CONVENTION THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND
WORKS) AND ALL THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
12. BENEATH THE GOVERNOR IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
ARE HIS THREE PRINCIPAL ADVISERS: THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WHO, INTER ALIA, IS HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE GOVERNOR'S DEPUTY: THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR'S ADVISER ON BUDGETARY
AND FISCAL POLICY AND ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS: AND THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR'S LEGAL ADVISER. THESE THREE
OFFICIALS ARE MEMBERS EX-OFFICIO OF BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGIS-
LATIVE COUNCILS AND, AS OF RIGHT, EACH HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO THE
GOVERNOR. IT IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THESE THREE PRINCIPAL
ADVISERS THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE OPERATES THROUGH THE MACHINERY
OF THE 14 BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND 59 EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.
13. IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN CONSITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE CIVIL
SERVICE ARE THE URBAN COUNCIL, 18 DISTRICT BOARDS, AND AN EXTENSIVE
NETWORK OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
14. THE URBAN COUNCIL IS A STATUTORY AND FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS
BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING MUNICIPAL SERVICES AS WELL AS
CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREAS. IT
COMPRISES 30 COUNCILLORS, 15 OF WHOM ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR
AND 15 DIRECTLY ELECTED ON A CONSTITUENCY BASIS. THE CHAIRMAN
IS ELECTED BY THE COUNCIL FROM AMONGST ITS MEMBERSHIP. THE ELECTED
MEMBERS AUTOMATICALLY HAVE SEATS ON THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS IN
WHOSE AREA THEIR CONSTITUENCY LIES, AND THE APPOINTED MEMBERS ARE
ALSO ALLOCATED SEATS ON DISTRICT BOARDS.
15. THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS WERE SET UP IN 1982 ON A GEOGRAPHICAL
BASIS COVERING THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG. OF THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF
THE DISTRICT BOARDS, ABOUT ONE-THIRD ARE OFFICIALS, ONE-THIRD ARE APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS AND THE REMAINDER (132 AT PRESENT) ARE
DIRECTLY ELECTED UNOFFICIALS. IT IS IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS THAT THE
SECRET
CONCEPT.