TNAG-1444-FCO40-1928-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 59

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likely acceptability to the Legislative Council of proposals

put to the Executive Council.

The Council's powers and functions:

the theory and the practice

6

The prime constitutional function of the Executive

Council is to advise the Governor, whose

decisions in

Council are formerly described as decisions by the "Governor

in Council".

Under the

the Governor is

on "all cases"

Instructions, Royal 7

obliged to consult the Executive Council

(See Note), and he alone is entitled to submit questions to

the Council. In practice the compilation of the agenda is

not subject to the absolute personal control suggested by

the terms of the Royal Instructions. In a typical year the

Administration will submit between 600 and 800 proposals

Note:

limited

Certain [minor] exceptions to the rule are specified in the Royal Instructions. For example the Governor is not

required to consult the Council on the appointment,

disciplinary control

office of public

servants

or оп

and removal from

unimportant

matters.

In

practice

most

of

limited

matters of importance, except for budgetary proposals (which

are submitted to the Legislative Council direct) and a very

financial range

matters (where Hong

Kong

law

specifies other

of control), means

come to

the Executive

Council.