TNAG-1440-FCO40-1924-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 70

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(i) As distinct from their activities qua UMELCO, the Unofficial members of LegCo have formed ad hoc groups to study current policy issues such as the Broadcasting Review Board Report, the White Paper on the draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order, the Green Paper on housing subsidy to tenants of public housing and similar subjects.

Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) Activities

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The Unofficial members of both Councils (UMELCO) have for many years functioned as an entity. They have, in the Legislative Council building, their own offices and staff, to assist them in studying

in studying courses of action proposed by the Government and in receiving representations from public groups and members of the public.

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UMELCO has for

for the 1985 Session formed 21

21 Panels, which meets regularly with senior civil servants to cover programme areas, such as education, manpower, health, welfare, the civil service,

service, housing,

housing, trade, industry, transport and public relations.

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The new style Legislative Council and increasing public interest in its activities have significantly increased its workload and the time demanded of Members. The emoluments provided for Unofficials make it possible for lower income people to be Members, and commit themselves virtually full-time.

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The Legislative Council has a very busy agenda. In its current session, it will pass 6 or 8 major Bills on matters of great

of great public interest, including the Budget, and about 70 minor Bills, mostly amendments designed to keep Hong Kong's legislation up to date. All aspects of Government business are examined in Committees of the Legislative Council and in the UMELCO panels and ad hoc groups. The members of the newly constituted Legislative Council have

have tackled this work in a serious and responsible manner. Responsibility for the formulation and execution of policy remains firmly with the Executive. But the Legislative Council's task is to ensure that these policies are adequately explained and justified in a public forum, so that the community as a whole may be satisfied that there is a clear justification for laws and policies which affect their daily lives.