Which of the following functions is explicitly stated as a power of the Hong Kong Government under the Basic Law?

The power of the Hong Kong Government to implement policies is explicitly stated within the framework of the Basic Law. Under the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is tasked with the administration and execution of various policies pertinent to its governance. This includes the responsibility to develop and implement policies in areas such as social, economic, and cultural affairs.

The other options, while significant in various aspects of governance, do not possess the same level of explicit endorsement in the Basic Law as the power to implement policies. Conducting military affairs is not within the jurisdiction of the HKSAR; that responsibility lies with the central government. Formulating laws is indeed an essential function of the HKSAR government, but the phrasing regarding the explicit powers leads to the understanding that implementation is a clearer stated function as it directly pertains to administrative actions. Similarly, enforcing higher education standards is part of policy implementation but not a separately stated power in the Basic Law.