TNAG-1295-FCO40-1650-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 41

CONFIDENTIAL

+ THE GOVERNOR CONSULTS THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE EXECUTION OF ·

AND THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES GRANTED TO HIM BY LETTERS PATENT, ACTS ON ITS ADVICE. AT PRESENT, IT CONSISTS OF 4 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, 2 OFFICIAL MEMBERS AND 10 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONSISTS OF 3 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, 13 OFFICIAL MEMBERS AND 30 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. IT ENACTS LEGISLATION AND CONTROLS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED FROM A WIDE SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 300 BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, INCLUDING DISTRICT BOARDS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK, DEALING WITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS, WITH EDUCATIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS, AND WITH ALL FACETS OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE IN TOUCH WITH ALL SECTORS

OF THE COMMUNITY.

APART FROM THEIR DUTIES IN THE TWO COUNCILS, THEY MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, AND CONSIDER COMPLAINTS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AGAINST GOVERNMENT, FOR HANDLING WHICH THEY HAVE FAR WIDER POWERS THAN IS POSSESSED BY ANY OMBUDSMAN.

ENDS

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

5

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

CONFIDENTIAL