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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 2 4 JUN 1985
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DESKBY 24120OZ
FM HONG KONG 24112OZ JUN 85
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1262 OF 24 JUNE
(36
YOUR TELNO 871: LEGCO (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL
Co
1. I WAS GRATEFUL TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE APPROACH BY MR JOHN MORRIS TO MR LUCE.
2. IN RESPONDING TO SUCH APPROACHES MINISTERS MAY WISH TO HAVE
IN MIND THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(A) THE LEGCO (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF
PRACTICAL MEASURES REQUIRED TO LEGITIMISE THE POSITION OF THE
LEGISLATURE AS HONG KONG MOVES TO A MORE FORMAL REPRESENTATIVE
SYSTEM AND TO PREPARE THE GROUND FOR LEGCO'S MOVE TO ITS NEW
CHAMBER. THE COUNCIL AT PRESENT MEETS IN THE GOVERNMENT
SECRETARIAT BUILDING. IN ITS NEW HOME IT WILL REQUIRE A
MORE DETACHED ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS.
1
(B) THESE MEASURES HAVE INCLUDED THE ALTERNATIVE FORM OF OATH
ENDORSED EARLIER BY THE COUNCIL: AMENDMENTS TO THE ROYAL
INSTRUCTIONS TO ENABLE THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS: THE BILL ON
THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS, THE REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS AS ENVISAGED IN THE WHITE PAPER, THE PRESENT BILL: AND ADMINIST-
RATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE COUNCIL AND ITS
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES IN NEW PREMISES IN THE OLD SUPREME
COURT BUILDING.
(C) THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASING NEED TO CODIFY THE IMMUNITIES, OBLIGATIONS, AND RIGHTS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ITS FINANCE COMMITTEE, PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE AND ESTIMATES
COMMITTEE HAVE NOW BEEN OPENED TO THE PUBLIC EXCEPT FOR A
LIMITED NUMBER OF ITEMS. THE 24 NEWLY-ELECTED MEMBERS WHO ARRIVE IN OCTOBER, ALMOST NONE OF WHOM WILL HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS, WILL NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY STAND FROM THE BEGINNING. THE BILL IS DESIGNED TO MEET THIS NEED. THE BILL HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY DEBATED IN LEGCO AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DETAILED SCRUTINY BY UMELCO (AND THE FCO) SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR. IT HAS NOT BEEN PUSHED THROUGH BY THE ADMINISTRATION. AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN AGREED TO MEET ALL VALID CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION. THE
SECOND READING WAS GIVEN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH INCLUDES TWO OC'S, AND TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
LEGAL PROFESSION.
(D) THERE ARE THEREFORE GOOD PRACTICAL REASONS FOR THIS BILL: IT
HAS BEEN AMENDED TO MEET OBJECTIONS: LEGCO ITSELF HAS TAKEN
THE LEAD IN IMPROVING IT
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