TNAG-1448-FCO40-1947-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1986 — Page 90

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Background

The

3.

In Hong Kong's three-tier Government structure the

central organs of Government are the Executive and Legislative Councils. The Executive Council, the highest policy-making

body in the territory, at present comprises four ex-officio members and 13 members appointed by the Governor of whom two are officials. Until 1985 the Legislative Council likewise

consisted of ex-officio members and appointed members.

second-tier bodies, the Urban and Regional Councils, have

their own budgets and a range of statutory responsibilities. Both comprise appointed and elected members. 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. One of its stated aims was to make the Government "more directly accountable to the people of Hong Kong".

5.

The Green Paper was approved by the sub-committee on

28 June 1984. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary subsequently reported to the sub-committee on 8 November 1984

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 :

(i) by introducing 24 new members indirectly

elected by Functional Constituencies and an Electoral College;

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