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Constitution and Administration
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Hong Kong is administered by the Hong Kong Government, and its administration has developed from the basic pattern applied in all British-governed territories overseas. The head of the Hong Kong Government is the Governor.
Role of the Governor
The Governor is the representative of the Queen in Hong Kong. He has ultimate direction of the administration of Hong Kong and is also the titular Commander-in-Chief. As head of the government he presides at meetings of both the Executive Council and the Legislative Council. The Executive Council, which is the principal policy making organ of the govern- ment, offers advice to the Governor on which he makes directions. The Bills which are passed by the Legislative Council must receive the Governor's assent before becoming law. The Governor is in close touch with the administration of the territory, and exerts a major influence over the direction of affairs.
Sir Edward Youde became the Governor of Hong Kong in May 1982, on the retirement of Lord MacLehose of Beoch, formerly Sir Murray MacLehose.
The Governor is appointed by the Queen, and derives his authority from the Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom. The Letters Patent establish the basic framework of the administration of Hong Kong, and, together with the Royal Instructions passed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet which lay down procedures that must be followed, form the constitution of Hong Kong.
The Letters Patent specifically create the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong, and require him to observe its laws and the instructions given to him by the Queen or the Secretary of State. They also deal with the constitution of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and the Governor's powers in respect of legislation, disposal of land, the appointment of judges and public officers, pardons, and the tenure of office of Supreme Court and District Court judges.
The Royal Instructions deal with the appointment of members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the nature of proceedings in the Executive Council, the Governor's responsibility to consult the Executive Council and his right to act in opposition to it. They also deal with the membership of the Legislative Council, the nature of proceedings there, the format of the legislation passed by the council, and the nature of legislation which may not be passed. The Standing Orders of the Legislative Council, made under the authority of Royal Instruction XXIII, provide how Bills are to be passed.
Central Government
Executive Council
The Executive Council consists of five ex-officio members
the Chief Secretary, the
Commander British Forces, the Financial Secretary, the Attorney General and the