TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 9

GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG

(as at 1 September 1983)

UNCLASSIFIED

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1. The primary function of the Executive Council is to advise

the Governor on all important matters of policy. Thus the

Council considers all principal legislation before it is

introduced into the Legislative Council and makes subsidiary

legislation under a number of ordinances. It also considers appeals, petitions and objections under certain ordinances.

2. The Council consists of four ex-officio members the

Chief Secretary, the Commander British Forces, the Financial

Secretary and the Attorney General - and twelve other members

who are appointed by the Queen on the nomination of the Governor. Of the twelve appointed members, two are officials

and ten are unofficials.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

3. The main functions of the Legislative Council are to

enact legislation and to control the spending of public funds.

4. The Council has a maximum membership of 58, comprising 29

official members, including the Governor and three ex-officio

members - the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the

Attorney General- and 29 unofficial members. The present actual membership is 19 official and 29 unofficial members.

members are appointed by the Queen on the nomination of the

Governor.

URBAN COUNCIL

5.

All

The Urban Council is incorporated by law and vested with its

own statutory functions. It is financially autonomous. The

Council's area of responsibility covers only the urban areas. It provides municipal services as well as cultural and recreational

facilities. Its executive arm is the Urban Services Department

6. The Council consists of 30 members, 15 of whom are appointed

UNCLASSIFIED