NOTE FOR THE PRIVY COUNCIL
I.
DRAFT HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT
1.
The draft Letters Patent 1993 provide that Article VI (1) of
the principal Letters Patent is revoked and replaced by a new
paragraph (1). This makes provision for the Legislative
Council to consist of sixty Members; twenty shall be elected
by geographical constituencies, thirty by functional
constituencies and ten by an election committee. Article VI(2)
which provides for the appointment of Members to the Council is
in consequence revoked. Amendments to Article VI (3) reflect
other consequential changes.
2.
Article VII (2) of the principal Letters Patent is replaced
with a new paragraph (2) which makes a number of minor changes
consequential upon new Article VI (1). Two new paragraphs are
added to Article VII. New paragraph (3) puts beyond doubt that
persons may hold any entitlement to vote which is in addition
to a vote in respect of a geographical constituency. New
paragraph (3) allows for different dates for voting in respect
of different descriptions of constituencies or different
categories of Members.
3. The draft Letters Patent, if made, will come into operation
upon publication in the Hong Kong Gazette. The membership, powers and privileges of the Legislative Council as constituted
under the principal Letters Patent immediately before the
coming into operation of the draft Letters Patent, if made,
will however remain unaffected until the day, or first day, for
the holding of elections in 1995 for Members of the Council.