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6. BESIDES ADVISING ON POLICY ISSUES, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALSO
EXAMINES ALL PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION IN DRAFT DEFORE IT IS
INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND HAS THE POWER TO MAKE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION UNDER A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES.
THE GOVERNOR-N-COUNCIL HAS THEREFORE VERY WIDE EXECUTIVE POWERS,
ALTHOUGH NO INDIVIDUAL MEMBER HAS RESPONSIBLITY FOR GIVEN
SUBJECTS OR PORTFOLIOS (EXCEPT THE EX-OFFICHO AND OFFICIAL
MEMBERS IN THEIR PARTICULAR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY).
COMMENT
7. THE PROPOSITION AT PARA 1 WAS PROBABLY DERIVED FROM A STUDY
THE FORMAL CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS AND OVERLOOKS THE PRACTICE
OF GOVERNMENT AS IT HAS ACTUALLY EVOLVED AND VARIES FROM THE
FORMAL POSITION. TO UNDERSTAND WHY HONG KONG WORKS, IT IS NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THE (CONSTITUTIONALLY) UNWRITTEN BUT WELL ESTABLISHED PRACTICES. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
AS DESCRIBED IN PARAS 3 6 ABOVE SHOW THAT THEY TOGETHER
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CONSTITUTE THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE AUTHORINTY OF PRESENT DAY HONG KONG,
AKERS-JONES
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON SIR W HARDING MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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