:
HAVE EMERGED. THE GOVERNMENT
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 ITE 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:
(3) TO BUILD THIS SYSTEM ON OUR EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, WEICH 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 YISH
OF THE COMMUNITY.
CHAPTER 2 THE PRESENT SYSTEM
8. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM OF GOVERUMENT 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 PRESENTATIVE
IN HONG KONG. HE HAS ULTIMATE DIRECTION OF THE GOVERSHENT 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 EMBERS
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 COURCIL. THE COUNCIL ITSELF MAKES
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION UNDER A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES. IT ALSO
CONSIDERS APPEALS, PETITIONS AND OBJECTIONS UNDER CERTAIN ORDINANCES.
SECRET