CONFIDENTIAL
70449 1
-
KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) OF CHINA: OUR EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT: (VI) THE OUTLOOK.
(V)
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. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE HIGHEST POLICY-MAKING BODY IN THE TERRITORY, AT PRESENT COMPRISE 4 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS AND 13 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF WHOM TWO ARE OFFICIALS. UNTIL 1984 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 DIRECTLY 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 GOVERNMENT. ONE OF ITS STATED AIMS WAS TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT QUOTE MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG UNQUOTE.
5.
THE OUTCOME OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE GREEN PAPER WAS CONSIDERED BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON ... 1984. THE MAIN CHANGE AGREED BY MINISTERS AND ANNOUNCED IN THE WHITE PAPER WAS THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ALTERED:
(I)
(II)
6.
BY INTRODUCING 24 NEW MEMBERS INDIRECTLY ELECTED BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE:
BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM 18 TO 10 AND THE NUMBER OF OTHER APPOINTED MEMBERS FROM 29 TO 22.
UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM NINE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
2
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 240Page 241