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our exchanges with the Chinese Government:
the outlook.
2.
The
Sub-Committee is invited to note progress. No decisions
need be taken at this stage.
Background
3.
In Hong Kong's three-tier government structure the central
organs of government are the Executive and Legislative Councils.
.he Executive Council, the highest policy-making body in the
territory, at present comprises 4 ex officio members and 13 members
appointed by the Governor of whom two are officials. Until 1985 the
Legislative Council likewise consisted of ex-officio members and
appointed members. The second-tier bodies, the Urban and Regional
Councils, have their Own budgets and a range of statutory responsibilities. Both comprise appointed and elected members. The
lowest tier of local government is the District Boards, which play
an important advisory role but have no executive authority.
Approximately two-thirds of District Board members are now directly elected and one third appointed.
The 1984 Green and White Papers
4.
The purpose
of the 1984 Green Paper was to propose ways of
extending the structure of representative government So as to embrace the central organs of
organs of government. One of its stated aims
was to make the government "more directly accountable to the people
of Hong Kong".
5.
The Green Paper was approved by the Sub-Committee on 28 June
1984. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary subsequently reported
to the Sub-Committee on 8 November 1984 on the outcome of public
consultation on the Green Paper. The main change then agreed by Ministers and announced in the White Paper was that the composition
of the Legislative Council should be altered:
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