| Abstract | Hong Kong was occupied to provide a secure base for British trade with China. Businessmen have always held the majority of the places open to non-government members in the Executive Council, the Legislative Council and Advisory Committees, giving them virtually veto power over government policy making. Where the colonial government decides to act in spite of business objections, businessmen still exert substanial influence over the details of policy implementation. In recent years the power of business has somewhat diminished since the government has been obliged to pay more attention to public opinion, political parties and environmental pressure groups. In 1922 Governor Patten went ahead with plans to democratise the electoral system despite the united opposition of the business community. |
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