Constitution
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likelihood that it will be renewed.
Without the New
Territories the Colony would not be a viable entity.
Hong Kong has little or no natural resources and its economy
depends entirely on the skills of its people and on their
ability to trade. External confidence in the Colony's
ability to maintain her position and pay her way is therefore
of vital importance.
4.
Although Hong Kong possesses a highly sophisticated
community and modern facilities of all kinds with a buoyant
economy the business of Government must be conducted under a
Crown Colony Constitution which provides for no elected element
in either the Executive or Legislative Councils. The former
has a nominated unofficial majority and the Governor is
required to consult with it save where matters are unimportant
or too urgent. He may act contrary to the advice of the
Executive Council but in such cases must report fully to the
Secretary of State. The Governor legislates with the advice
and consent of the Legislative Council which has twelve official
and thirteen nominɛ ted unofficial members. The Governor, as
President, has an original and a casting vote, thus maintaining
an official majority. There are the usual reservations to the
Crown of the power of disallowance and of the power to legislate
by Order in Council for the peace, order and good government
of the Colony.
RELATIONS WITH UNITED KINGDOM
5.
The combination described above of constitutional infancy
on the one hand and economic sophistication and adulthood on
the other has had a somewhat unfortunate effect on United
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Kingdom
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