1
香港總督府
Sir,
CONFIDENTIAL
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
16 July 1988
Hong Kong's Legislative Council:
the impact of Elections
The Hong Kong Legislative Council which
convened on 30 October 1985 differed from all
its predecessors. It included, for the first time, members who were not beholden to the Governor for their seats but who were elected, albeit not on a universal franchise.
2.
This apparently simple change has had great significance. The Legislative Council (LegCo) has taken on an independent life of its own, frequently questioning the policy-making machinery of the Government. Its members have lived much more in the public eye: Hong Kong's relatively unsophisticated media have increasingly looked to them for a lead on the issues of the day. In short, the presence of elected members in LegCo has raised fundamental questions about. the management of the Council, its future evolution and the development of the system of Government in Hong Kong.
The last session of the traditional LegCo, in 1984-85, saw a Council consisting of 48 members. These were the President (the Governor), 18 officials and 29 appointed members. The new 1985 Council was increased to 57 members. The President is still the Governor; but officials have been reduced to 10 and appointed members to 22. The remaining places are filled by 24 elected members, of whom 12 are from functional constituencies and 12 from electoral colleges made up of members of the Municipal Councils and District Boards.
3.
The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe QC MP Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs
Foreign & Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH
CONFIDENTIAL
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