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GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
(as at 1st September 1983)
Executive Council
1. The primary function of the Executive Council is to advise the
Governor on all important matters of policy. Thus the Council
considers all principal legislation before it is introduced into the
Legislative Council and makes subsidiary legislation under a number
of ordinances. It also considers appeals, petitions and objections
under certain ordinances.
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2. The Council consists of four ex-officio members the Chief
Secretary, the Commander British Forces, the Financial Secretary
and the Attorney General and thirteen other members who are
appointed by The Queen on the nomination of the Governor. Of the
thirteen appointed members, two are officials and eleven are
unofficials.
Legislative Council
3. The main functions of the Legislative Council are to enact legislation and to control the spending of public funds.
4. The Council has a maximum membership of 58, comprising 29 official members, including the Governor and three ex-officio
members - the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the
Attorney General and 29 unofficial members. The present actual
membership is 19 official and 29 unofficial members. All members
are appointed by The Queen on the nomination of the Governor.
Urban Council
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5. The Urban Council is incorporated by law and vested with its own statutory functions. It is financially autonomous. The Council's area of responsibility covers only the urban areas. It provides municipal services as well as cultural and recreational facilities.
Its executive arm is the Urban Services Department.