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(VI)
2.
THE OUTLOOK.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE IS INVITED TO NOTE PROGRESS. NO
DECISIONS NEED BE TAKEN AT THIS STAGE.
BACKGROUND
3.
IN HONG KONG'S THREE-TIER GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE THE
CENTRAL ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT ARE THE GOVERNOR AND THE EXECUTIVE
AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE HIGHEST
POLICY MAKING BODY IN THE TERRITORY, AT PRESENT COMPRISES 4
EX-OFFICIA MEMBERS AND 13 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
OF WHOM TWO ARE OFFICIALS. UNTIL 1985 THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCL
LIKEWISE CONSISTED OF EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS AND APPOINTED
MEMBERS. THE SECOND TIER BODIES, THE URBAN AND REGIONAL
COUNCILS, HAVE THEIR OWN BUDGETS AND A RANGE OF STATUTORY
RESPONSIBILITIES. HALF THEIR MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED: HALF
ARE DIRECTLY ELECTED BY UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. THE LOWEST
TIER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE DISTRICT BOARDS, WHICH PLAY
AN IMPORTANT ADVISORY ROLE BUT HAVE NO EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.
APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOW
DIRECTLY ELECTED AND ONE THIRD APPOINTED.
THE 1984 GREEN AND WHITE PAPERS
4.
THE PURPOSE OF THE 1984 GREEN PAPER WAS TO PROPOSE WAYS
OF EXTENDING THE STRUCTURE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT SO AS TO
EMBRACE THE CENTRAL ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT. THE STATED AIM WAS TO
MAKE THE GOVERNMENT QUOTE MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE
OF HONG KONG UNQUOTE.
5.
THE OUTCOME OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE GREEN PAPER WAS
CONSIDERED BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON ... 1984. THE MAIN CHANGE
AGREED BY MINISTERS AND ANNOUNCED IN THE WHITE PAPER WAS THAT THE
COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ALTERED:
(I)
(II)
6.
BY INTRODUCING 24 NEW MEMBERS INDIRECTLY ELECTED BY
FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE:
BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM 18 TO
10 AND THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FROM 29
TO 22.
UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM NINE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
RETURN A TOTAL OF 12 MEMBERS.
THEY ARE MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS
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