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2
(a)
(b)
4 ex-officio members (the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, the Attorney-General, and the Secretary for Home Affairs); and
a further 19 Official members and 27 Unofficial members nominated by the Governor.
·
The Governor has not gone against the views of Legco for many years. In the unlikely event that he should need to do so, he can appoint, on instructions from the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, extra Official members to the Council. Legco, through its Financial Commiti authorises public expenditure in Hong Kong.
1.6 The Unofficial members of Exco and Legco form an organisation, kr as UMELCO, which has its own office and staff and which acts as a foru for discussing matters of current concern. While Exco members are obliged to regard all Council business as confidential, it is a functi of Legco members to seek and react to public opinion on proposed legis lation, and the UMELCO office provides them with one means of doing th UMELCO also receives and investigates complaints from the public of maladministration by the civil service.
1.7 The only body participating in the Government of Hong Kong that consists entirely of members of the public is the Urban Council (Urbco Half of its 24 members are elected (by a limited franchise, subject primarily to educational and property qualifications, though this will soon be broadened); the remainder are appointed by the Governor from among prominent members of the community.
1.8 Urbco's responsibilities are limited to the built-up areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon (where, altogether, about three-quarters of the population live). Its main duties are public hygiene, the control and licensing of markets, and the provision and maintenance of recreational and cultural facilities.
1.9 There are few organised political groups in Hong Kong. Two small. quasi-political organisations contest Urbco elections, but they are really no more than pressure groups and their membership is limited to a small number of mainly middle-class Chinese and expatriates of no particular ideological background.
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