:
:
IN CONFIDENCE
(At present there are 8 Unofficials and 1 Official (the Secretary for Administration).) The Governor is constitutionally required to consult ExCo except on matters he considers too unimportant or too urgent to warrant obtaining their advice. He may act in opposition to the advice he receives, but if he does so he must report his reasons to HMG.
5.
The Governor legislates with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council (known as "LegCo").
(known as "LegCo"). This has
This has recently been.
revised to consist of:-
(a) The Governor;
(b) 20 Officials (including four of the five
ex-officio members the Commander of the British Forces is the exception who sit on ExCo); and
(c) 24 Unofficials.
As in ExCo, there is an Unofficial majority but the Governor has not for many years sought to override the views of LegCo. If he should need to do so he can appoint, on instructions from the Secretary of State, extra Official members to the Council.
SECTION B: SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS OVER HONG KONG
Background
6. The Chinese consider the Treaties relating to the cession of Hong Kong (paragraph 1 above) as amongst the "unequal treaties" forced on China during a period of internal weakness and they therefore regard the whole of Hong Kong as part of Chinese territory. Nevertheless, the practical value of Hong Kong to China outweighs nationalist and ideological considerations. Hong Kong is a valuable direct source of convertible currency (estimated at about £1,000 million in 1976), mostly earned from foodstuffs, invisibles and remittances to relations in China. It is also an important entrepôt for Chinese exports elsewhere....
17.
IN CONFIDENCE
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