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NOTE FOR THE PRIVY COUNCIL
DRAFT HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1988
The draft Letters Patent propose changes to the composition
of the Legislative Council. Article 2(1) (a) would remove the power to appoint officials to the Council, though the
Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and Attorney General
will remain as ex officio members. Article 2 (1) (b) would
reduce the number of non-officials who may be appointed to the Council from twenty to eighteen. Article 2(1)(c)
increases the number of Elected Members from twenty-six to
thirty-nine. It is intended that the Elected Members should
comprise 21 indirectly elected members (elected by function
constituencies) and, for the first time, eighteen directly
elected members.
These changes will produce, also for the first time, an
elected majority in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
DRAFT HONG KONG ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS 1990
The principal matters dealt with in the draft additional
Instructions are the making of a new provision for the
appointment of a Deputy President of the Legislative Council
(Clause 7) the Governor is the President and provisions
to enable elections to the Legislative Council to be held in
1991 and 1995 (Clauses 2 and 8). The remaining provisions
are consequential on the removal of the power to appoint
officials to the Legislative Council.
NB1AAN/1