XN000022-1976-02-20 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1976

THE LETTERS PATENT CONSTITUTE THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ESTABLISH AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IN GENERAL TERMS DEFINE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR. THE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE TWO COUNCILS ARE PROVIDED FOR IN THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE TWOFOLD. FIRSTLY, IT ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON ALL IMPORTANT POLICY MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS.

SECONDLY IT ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON THE EXERCISE OF VARIOUS STATUTORY POWERS AND DUTIES CONFERRED ON THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, SUCH AS THE ENACTMENT OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, THE DETERMINATION OF APPEALS AND OBJECTIONS, AND OTHER EXECUTIVE ACTS.

+EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CONSIDERS POLICY. IT CANNOT ALLOCATE FUNDS NOR ENACT ORDINANCE. IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE THEREFORE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY ACTION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OR ITS IMPORTANT COMMITTEE, FINANCE COMMITTEE,+ MR. BRAY SAID.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS TWO MAIN FUNCTIONS. HE CONTINUED. IT IS THE LAW MAKING BODY OF HONG KONG AND IT CONTROLS THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. IT IS ALSO THE FORUM IN WHICH QUESTIONS CAN BE ASKED OF THE GOVERNMENT AND REPLIES GIVEN.+

THIS COUNCIL MEETS IN PUBLIC NORMALLY ONCE A FORTNIGHT THROUGH THE YEAR, EXCEPT FOR A SIX-WEEK RECESS IN AUGUST-OCTOBER.

THERE ARE TWO REGULAR MAJOR DEBATES EACH YEAR - A DEBATE ON FINANCIAL AND ECONOMICAL MATTERS IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, AND A WIDER RANGING DEBATE ON GOVERNMENT POLICY IN GENERAL, RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, AT THE OPENING OF EACH NEW SESSION OF COUNCIL.

IN

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