TNAG-1353-FCO40-1794-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 62

NOTE FOR THE PRIVY COUNCIL

DRAFT HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1985

DRAFT HONG KONG ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS 1985

1. The Agreement between the United Kingdom and China on the future

of Hong Kong provides that the legislature of Hong Kong, after the

Colony reverts to China in 1997, shall be constituted by elections. There are no Elected Members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council at present and it is now proposed, following the issue of a consultative Green Paper by the Hong Kong authorities in July 1984,

that there should be indirect elections for Elected Members who will

initially comprise 24 of the 56 Members of the Council.

In

2. The drafts of the Letters Patent and the additional

Instructions, which are now submitted for the approval of Her Majesty The Queen in Council, provide for the necessary amendments to the constitutional instruments of Hong Kong. The draft Letters

Patent provide for the composition of the Legislative Council.

addition to the 24 Elected Members, the Council will consist of the

Governor, 3 ex officio Members, up to 7 other persons holding office under the Crown in Hong Kong and up to 22 Anpointed (unofficial) Members. The Letters Patent also empower the Legislative Council to enact laws providing for elections to the Council; such laws would make detailed provision for elections and for the qualifications and

tenure of office of Elected Members.

3. The additional Instructions supplement the Letters Patent. Provision is made for triennial elections, unless the Council is

sooner dissolved.

Hong Kong Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office