IN CONFIDENCE
A
B
Background
3.
an
In March this year Hong Kong proposed, and Ministers agreed, that, in order to improve the handling of official business in the Council, the number of official members of LEGCO should be increased. Ministers also noted that
amendment
the Letters Patent
be would
required and agreed that, although Hong Kong had proposed an increase of only two official members, the Letters Patent should be amended to provide on a contingency basis for an increase of up to four officials. Hong Kong have subsequently
to
confirmed that Unofficials have also welcomed an increase
in the official membership.
4.
the
present
amendment
Separately, it is intended to use the opportunity of exercise to make two further
amendments to the Letters Patent and Royal Instructions. The first amendment, to the Letters Patent, would remove the requirement that Hong Kong land leases (many of which will now extend beyond 1997) should be issued in the name
of
Crown. the
other
to the amendment,
Royal
Instructions, would allow Hong Kong in an emergency to enact laws only in Chinese, rather than only in English, or
both in English
The
and in
Chinese,
as
the present
Instructions would permit.
Royal
9 June 1986
CO Hum
Hong Kong Department
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