TNAG-0105-FCO40-141-Letters-Patent-and-Royal-Instructions-including-change-of-ti-1969 — Page 20

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The Hong Kong Additional Instructions. 1969

The Governor has proposed a number of minor amendments to the

Hong Kong Royal Instructions.

They concern a change in the title

of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to that of "Secretary for Home

Affairs"; an increase from five to ten in the number of members

required to constitute a quorum of the Legislative Council;

abolition of the requirement for a motion in the Legislative Council

to have a seconder; and the transfer to the public Service Commia-

sion of the Executive Council's function of advising the Governor

on the disposal of disciplinary cases in the public service.

2. The purpose of these amendments is to bring the Royal Instruc-

tions up-to-date and to provide for present-day needs and conditions

in the Colony; they do not change the constitutional position in

any significant way.

3. The change to "Secretary for Home Affairs" is proposed to meet

the wishes of the unofficial members of the xecutive Council. 98,

of Hong Kong's population is now Chinese by birth or origin. The

new title fits more closely the principal role of the post which is

to act as a direct channel of communication between the Governor and

the people of Hong Kong and as the executive authority for a number

of special statutory or administrative responsibilities.

There is

a slight political risk that the new title may produce a reaction

from the Chinese People's Government in Peking; and that it may

also serve to encourage a minority of residents in the Colony who

urge that Hong Kong is now "home" for a large number of them and

/that