TNAG-1357-FCO40-1798-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 12

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Appointed Members

12.

These are appointed by the Governor with the approval

of the Secretary of State.

Official Members are civil

servant policy Secretaries.

Unofficial members may be

appointed for up to four years and re-appointed for further

periods of four years; in practice, appointments are usually

for two or three years at a time.

13.

These appointments are inter alia used by the Governor

to balance sectoral interests and ensure a broad spectrum of

representation.

14.

It is noteworthy that the type of member (moderate;

middle class professional; generally speaking) in the 1985

Council is not significantly different from before.

Method of Work

15.

i)

Meetings

LegCo meets publicly for one half-day per week

except for a recess of about two months in August and

Members may speak in English or

September.

Chinese;

ii)

simultaneous interpretation is provided.

President

The Governor presides at all sittings of Council,

and is Chairman of committees of the whole Council.

In his absence, a Member appointed by the Governor

(usually the Chief Secretary) presides.

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