TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 270

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*

GRS 1600

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 25090OZ FCO

TELNO 2489

OF 2508OOZ JUNE 87

NFO UMMED HATE PEKING

Secret

TOP COPY @ DIST 7

17

Hub Only..

MY THIRD PT: STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT: LONGER-TERM ISSUES

FOLLOWING HIS TEXT OF NOTE 2.

25 JUN 1937

BEGINS

THE EXECUTIVE

PAPER # OF MAY 1986 DESCRIBED HOW THE PRESENT GOVERNMENTAL INSTERTUTIONS IN HONG KONG OPERATE IN PRACTICE AND THE HUNTER- RELATIONSHIP OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS MAN THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, UN PART:NCULAR THE GOVERNOR, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

2. KNSOFAR AS THE EXERCISE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES IS CONCERNED, THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM ARE THAT

-

(A) THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISES THE GOVERNOR, WHO IS IN GENERAL REQUIRED TO CONSULT IT ON IMPORTANT MATTERS OF POLICY:

(B) APART FROM THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS SPECIFIED IN THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE APPOINTED FOR FIXED PERIODS

BY THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE QUEEN:

(C) THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS ARE ''UNOFF·KC-HALS''

SERVANTS:

1.E. NOT PUBLIC

(D)

MEMBERS TENDER THEIR ADVANCE INDIVIDUALLY:

(E) THE GOVERNOR INVARĦABLY ACTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OVERALL

ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL:

(F) THE DECISIONS OF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL (N EFFECT THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ACTING COLLECTIVELY)

ARE PRESENTED AS CORPORATE DECISIONS:

(E) THE PUBLIC SERVICE, THROUGH OFFICIALS OF SECRETARY RANK,! PRESENTS POLICY PROPOSALS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR DECISION. THESE OFFICIALS ARE THEN RESPONSIBLE FOR DIRECTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISIONS OF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND ACCOUNT FOR THEM TO

THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC.

Secret

13.

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