TYPES AND GROUPINGS OF MEMBERS
15. THE MEMBERS OF THE 1985 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APE IN BROAD TERMS NOT GREATLY DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE, BEING GENERALLY MIDDLE CLASS, PROFESSIONAL AND, IN POLITICAL TERMS, MODERATE. HOWEVER, THE ELECTIVE BACKGROUND - ALBEIT LIMITED - OF 24 OF THE MEMBERS MEANS THAT THEY REPRESENT IN A MORE SHARPLY DEFINED WAY THAN BEFORE VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS IN THE COUNCIL (FOR EXAMPLE, EDUCATION AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES) SEMICOLON THEY ARE UNDER GREATER PRESSURE TO SPEAK UP FOR THEIR INTEREST GROUPS, AND TO PROVE BY THEIR DILIGENCE THEIR VALUE AS NEW, ELECTED, MEMBERS. THE MEDIA ALSO EXPECTS MORE OF THEM ON THIS LATTER SCORE.
16. HONG KONG HAS A WELL-DEVELOPED AND ACTIVE RANGE OF PRESSURE
GROUPS OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE WHICH HAVE RECENTLY BEGUN TO SUPPORT
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL AND WILL DO SO AGAIN IN THE 1986 URBCO ELECTIONS. THESE
PRESSURE GROUPS DO NOT FUNCTION AS POLITICAL PARTIES IN A WESTERN
SENSE.
METHOD OR WORK
17. (A) UNDERLINE NEXT WORD MEETINGS LEGCO MEETS PUBLICLY FOR ONE
HALF-DAY PER WEEK EXCEPT FOR SHORT RECESSES AT CHRISTMAS,
CHINESE NEW YEAR AND EASTER AND A RECESS OF ABOUT TWO MONTHS
HN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. MEMBERS MAY SPEAK IN ENGLISH OR
CANTONESE: SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION IS PROVIDED.
(B) UNDERLINE NEXT WORD PRESIDENT THE GOVERNOR PRESIDES AT
ALL SITTINGS OF COUNCIL WHEN HE 1S IN HONG KONG, AND IS CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL. IN HIS ABSENCE,
A MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR (IN PRACTICE THE CHIEF
SECRETARY) PRESIDES.
(C) UNDERLINE NEXT THREE WORDS SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER
A LEADING UNOFFICIAL IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS SENIOR
UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. THIS APPOINTMENT EXISTS
BY CONVENTION: NOT BY SPECIFICATION IN STANDING ORDERS.
HE OR SHE SHEPHERDS RATHER THAN LEADS LEGCO COLLEAGUES, AND
DEALS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY ON PUBLIC
BUSINESS GENERALLY AS WELL AS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
AND UMELCO CONTEXTS. (UMELCO IS A GROUP ESTABLISHED BY
LONG CONVENTION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: SEE PARA. 19 BELOW).
YOUNE
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