TNAG-2737-FCO40-3950-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-1993-1993 — Page 54

NOTE FOR THE PRIVY COUNCIL

I.

1.

DRAFT HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT

The draft Letters Patent 1993 provide that Article VI (1) of

the principal Letters Patent is revoked and replaced by a new

paragraph (1). This makes provision for the Legislative

Council to consist of sixty Members; twenty shall be elected

by geographical constituencies, thirty by functional

constituencies and ten by an election committee. Article VI(2)

which provides for the appointment of Members to the Council is

in consequence revoked. Amendments to Article VI (3) reflect

other consequential changes.

2.

Article VII (2) of the principal Letters Patent is replaced

with a new paragraph (2) which makes a number of minor changes

consequential upon new Article VI (1). Two new paragraphs are

added to Article VII. New paragraph (3) puts beyond doubt that

persons may hold any entitlement to vote which is in addition

to a vote in respect of a geographical constituency. New

paragraph (3) allows for different dates for voting in respect

of different descriptions of constituencies or different

categories of Members.

3. The draft Letters Patent, if made, will come into operation

upon publication in the Hong Kong Gazette. The membership,

powers and privileges of the Legislative Council as constituted

under the principal Letters Patent immediately before the

coming into operation of the draft Letters Patent, if made,

will however remain unaffected until the day, or first day, for

the holding of elections in 1995 for Members of the Council.