TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 451

The Hong Kong Education System

Appendix B

The Constitutional and Central Administrative Background to Education

The

Hong Kong is administered by the Hong Kong Government

according to the conventions of British colonial administration.

Governor is the representative of the Queen as head of the

government he presides at meetings of the two main advisory bodies,

the Executive and Legislative Councils. The Executive Council consists

of five ex-officio members (the Chief Secretary, the Commander British

Forces, the Financial Secretary, the Attorney General and the Secretary

for Home Affairs), together with other members appointed by the Queen,

or the Governor, on the instructions of the Secretary of State. The

number of appointed members is now 10, making one official and nine

unofficial members in addition to the five ex-officio members. The

council usually meets once a week throughout the year. Its function is

to advise the Governor, who is required by the Royal Instructions to

consult it on all important matters of policy, subject to certain

exceptions such as in cases of extreme urgency. In accordance with

the Royal Instructions the Governor decides on matters to be put

before the council. Decisions on matters considered by the council

are taken by the Governor (but if he decides to act against the advice

of the majority of members he is required to report the reasons to the

The Governor in Council the Governor acting Secretary of State).

after receiving the advice of the council - is the statutory authority

for making regulations, rules and orders under a number of ordinances,

and also considers appeals, petitions and objections under ordinances

which confer such a statutory right of appeal.

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