TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 58

CONFIDENTIAL

(v)

our exchanges with the Chinese Government:

(vi)

the outlook.

2.

The Sub-Committee is invited to note progress. No decisions

need be taken at this stage.

Background

3.

the central

5

In Hong Kong's three-tier government structure organs of government are the Executive and Legislative Councils. The Executive Council, the highest policy-making body in the territory, at present comprises 4 ex officio members and 13 members appointed by the Governor of whom two are officials. Until 1984 the Legislative Council likewise consisted of

and ex-officio members

appointed members. The second-tier bodies, the Urban and Regional

Councils, have their Own budgets and а

of range

statutory responsibilities. Both comprise appointed and elected members. lowest tier of local government is the District Boards, which play

important advisory

have no executive authority. Approximately two-thirds of District Board members now directly elected and one third appointed.

an

but role

The 1984 Green and White Papers

4.

structure

are

The

SO

as to

The purpose of the 1984 Green Paper was to propose ways of

extending the

of representative government embrace the central organs of government. One of its stated aims was to make the government "more directly accountable to the people

of Hong Kong".

5.

n°2

The Green Paper was approved by the Sub-Committee on 28 June 1984. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary subsequently reported

to

Sub-Committee the

on

8

1984

November on

the

outcome

of

public

consultation on the Green Paper. The main change then agreed by Ministers and announced in the White Paper was that the composition of the Legislative Council should be altered:

CONFIDENTIAL