ENG-1966 — Page 354

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Constitution and Administration

THE principal features of the constitution are prescribed in Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, which provide for a Governor, an Executive Council, and a Legis- lative Council. Royal Instructions to the Governor, supplemented by further Instructions from the Sovereign conveyed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, prescribe the membership of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

The Executive Council, which is presided over by the Governor, consists of five ex officio members, one nominated official member and eight nominated unofficial members, the composition of the Council having been increased by two unofficial members in May 1966. The ex officio members are the Senior Military Officer, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and the Financial Secretary. The eight unofficials at present include four Chinese members.

The main function of the Executive Council is to advise the Governor, who must consult its members on all important matters. The responsibility for deciding which questions should come before the Council, and for taking action afterwards, rests with the Governor, who is required to report his reasons fully to the Secretary of State if he acts in opposition to the advice given by members. The Governor in Council (i.e. Executive Council) is also given power under numerous ordinances to make subsidiary legislation by way of rules, regulations and orders. A further function of the Council is to consider appeals and petitions under certain ordinances.

The Legislative Council consists of the Governor (who is both the President and a member), the same ex officio members as the Executive Council (with the exception of the Senior Military Officer, who ceased to be a member of the Council with effect from 6th January 1966) and eight nominated officials, making a total number of 13 officials. There is an equal number of unofficial members,