OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS WHO WOULD PRESENT "HIS BUDGET AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
22. THE PRESENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO LEGISLATE, DEBATE, QUESTION, AND VOTE FUNDS AS DESCRIBED IN PAPER 1. HMG HAS NO PLANS TO AMEND THESE POWERS.
23. UNDER SECTION 1 OF ANNEX 1 TO THE JOINT DECLARATION LEGISLATIVE POWER OF THE HONG KONG SAR IS TO BE VESTED IN THE LEGISLATURE WHICH MAY ON ITS OWN AUTHORITY ENACT LAWS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW AND LEGAL PROCEDURES, AND REPORT THEM TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NPC FOR THE RECORD''. THE
LEGISLATURE WILL ALSO HAVE THE POWER TO AMEND EXISTING LAW.
24. SINCE THE EXECUTIVE IS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE' TO THE LEGISLATURE (JOINT DECLARATHON, ANNEX, SECTION ) IT WILL NEED THE RIGHT TO DEBATE ALL SSUES OF POLICY AND TO POSE QUESTIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE ON ALL MATTERS OF POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION.
25. UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATHON THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONTINUE TO APPROVE TAXATION AND PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND THE EXECUTIVE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO IT FOR ALL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE: THE EXISTING SYSTEM
OF AUDITING PUBLIC ACCOUNT IS ALSO TO BE MAINTAINED (JOINT DECLARATION, ANNEX V).
26. THERE SHOULD THEREFORE BE LITTLE PROBLEM OVER CONVERGENCE
BETWEEN THE POWERS OF THE EXISTING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE SAR.
27. THE GOVERNOR HAS THE POWER TO DISSOLVE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
PROVISION WILL NEED TO BE MADE FOR THE SITUATION IN WHICH THE
POLICIES ENDORSED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AND HIS EXECUTIVE ON
MAJOR MATTERS FAIL TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATURE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS:
(A) THE POWER TO DISSOLVE THE LEGISLATURE COULD BE GIVEN TO THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
(B) THERE MIGHT OTHERWISE BE A PROVISION REQUIRING THE EXECUTIVE
TO REVIEW SUCH POLICIES, AND IN THE EVENT OF THE EXECUTIVE DECIDING TO MAINTAIN THEM REQUIRING A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE..
LEGISLATURE. IN THE EVENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE FAILING TO OBTAIN
A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE EITHER
THEDE WOULD no A DISCALITEAN.