DRAFT NOTE FOR THE PRIVY COUNCIL
Ark 12413.
RECEIVED IN
INDEX
Draft UK Letters Patent 1986
Draft UK Additional Instruments 1985
28 MAY 1986
W
20
The drafts of the (amending) Letters Patent and the Additional
Instructions which are now submitted for the approval of Her Majesty
The Queen in Council propose three separate amendments to the
constitutional instruments of Hong Kong.
The principal Letters Patent provide for the composition of the
Legislative Council. The experience of the last year has shown that
there are
insufficient official nominated members of the Council
to conduct Government business and, in particular, respond adequately
to unofficial members' questioning of Government policy. It is
therefore proposed that the existing number of seven nominated
official members (there are in addition three ex officio official
members) should be increased by four to eleven.
It is not,
however, intended that more than two additional members should be appointed at present.
The second amendment proposed in the draft Letters Patent is to
alter the style under which grants of land are made in Hong Kong.
The present requirement of the Letters Patent is that grants should
be made in Her Majesty's name. Since current grants and re-grants may extend beyond the period during which the United Kingdom has sovereignty and jurisdiction in Hong Kong, it is proposed that this
form should no longer be used.
The proposed amendment in the Additional Instructions is designed to facilitate the making of laws in both the English and in the
Chinese languages.
Hong Kong Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Date)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.