TNAG-1438-FCO40-1922-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 117

British officials sing praises of constitution

The

What are the merits of Hong Kong's constitution?

British officials wrote: "Those unelected members, by virtue

of that very fact, have the freedom to represent the interests of

the entire community, and not just of some faction or political

party in it. Yet, perhaps because the policy-makers do not have

to seek re-election, there is a continuity rare in any democracy".

"The Governor, the Queen's appointee ..... His position is high,

his powers wide

He is head of the Executive; the ultimate

power of direction over the administration rests in his hands.

The Executive Council, the policy-deciding organ of the Government,

performs the function of a Cabinet, over which he presides." "So

far as legislation is concerned, the Legislative Council, upon which private members of the community sit in the majority,

retains in effect a power of veto, for whilst the Governor may

assent or not to Bills as he feels right, he can only exercise

this power if and when legislation has first been passed. The

consent of the Legislative Council is a pre-requisite to the

passage of any legislation, including of course financial provision

under Appropriation Bills". "Never are heard outraged shouts of 'disgrace', 'resign' ..... One reason undoubtedly stems from Hong Kong's consultative system." "The previous Governor, then Sir Murray MacLehose, so described in 1975: ..... Lacking, as is

unavoidable, any electoral mandate, members are required to try to think and plan and speak for the interests of the community as a whole as they see it, and not, as would be so much easier, for

the narrow interests of a party, a group, a profession, an area

or a class?" "A constitutional role of the Council is to

question the effectiveness of government and to act as a spur to put things right. This it does through the Public Accounts Committee.

The committee calls heads and controlling officers of departments to

give explanations, and ultimately its report to the full Council is laid on the table, and becomes public property." "Question time affords Unofficial Members the opportunity publicly to question senior members of the Government on every aspect of life in Hong Kong."

"..... e historian observing Hong Kong and its institutions today would be likely to see not a hybrid, but the sole species of

a unique genus."